Animal casualties on the increase at Brooklands lake

BOATING will return to a lake previously infested with toxic algae despite a rise in suspected animal poisoning cases.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jul 2014, 13:00 BST
One of the cygnets affected by the Blue Green Algae, at Brooklands SUS-140722-145512001One of the cygnets affected by the Blue Green Algae, at Brooklands SUS-140722-145512001
One of the cygnets affected by the Blue Green Algae, at Brooklands SUS-140722-145512001

Worthing Borough Council confirmed on Wednesday algae levels at Brooklands lake, in East Worthing, were ‘low risk’, allowing the public to enjoy the lake once again.

But on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service rescued three cygnets, suspected to be suffering from symptoms consistent with algae poisoning. The first cygnet later died.

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WADARS senior animal rescue officer Billy Elliot said: “My feeling is that putting the boats back on the lake isn’t a good idea when we are still rescuing animals out of the lake.

“When the water is choppy, the algae sinks back to the bottom. From my experience, it doesn’t mean to say it is not there.”

Although it can only be done in extreme circumstances, WADARS is consulting with other organisations to potentially move the rest of the family of swans living on the lake to a safer location.

“It’s life or death now,” he added.

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, July 24.

Related topics:Worthing Borough Council