Swan deaths: Two swans and a cignet mauled to death by dog at Maribyrnong River Reserve

Horrified onlookers have watched as a beloved family of swans was mauled to death by a pet dog in Melbourne’s west. Warning: graphic images.

The Footscray community is outraged after a family of swans was mauled to death by an off-lead pet dog. Photo: Wildlife Victoria

A beloved family of swans in Melbourne’s west has been mauled to death by an off-lead pet dog in front of horrified onlookers.

Two swan parents and their cygnet were killed while the remaining three orphaned cygnets are fighting for life after the brutal attack at wetlands near Heavenly Queen Temple in Footscray on Sunday.

Witnesses reported seeing an unleashed pet dog charge towards the ducklings through safety barricades, chasing them into the water before mauling the swans to death.

The horrifying incident happened despite a barricade to protect the ducklings and multiple signs advising owners to keep dogs on a leash.

Heavenly Queen Temple volunteer Greg Rebelo, who loved and looked after the swans, told the Herald Sun he was “disturbed” by the incident.

“It was awful – I have children of my own and empathised with the family,” he said.

It follows a similar incident at at Edwardes Lake in Reservoir in July.

Mr Rebelo informed the park ranger and Wildlife Victoria and Melbourne Zoo’s Marine Response Unit, who attended the scene.

There are multiple signs along the Maribyrnong River and the pond.

Maribyrnong City Council put up signs to protect the new family of cygnets and ducklings to the pond.

It comes a week after two other cygnets belonging to the same family were killed, allegedly mauled by another unleashed dog.

“There were a total of six cygnets and the two parents, but two cygnets were butchered days before by what looked like a dog attack,” Mr Rebello said.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor Sarah Carter said an investigation was underway, and the owner would be prosecuted after they were identified.

“The deaths of two swans and a cygnet in a dog attack at the Maribyrnong River Reserve is a concern,” she said.

The off-lead pet dog chased the family of swans through the protective barricade and into the water before mauling them to death.

“Maribyrnong River Reserve and the neighbouring Heavenly Queen Temple are on-lead dog areas. This means no dog should be off lead at any time,”

“Staff will be patrolling the area and auditing current signage to ensure visitors are aware of the requirements if they bring dogs into the area.”

Wildlife Victoria chief executive Lisa Palma urged people to walk their dogs on lead.

“Sadly, dog attacks on wildlife are more common than you might think. In the last six months alone, Wildlife Victoria has responded to over 500 cases of dog attacks on wildlife,” she said.

Mr Rebelo first notified the Maribyrnong Council about the swan family moving to the pond in late July, prompting the council to put up barricades and signs advising the arrival of ducklings.

“They put the temporary fencing to protect the swans, and the unleashed dog went through it,” he said.

People laid flowers on the site to pay tribute to the swans that were tragically killed.

Outraged community members took to social media to express their grief and frustration, demanding tighter laws around keeping dogs on lead.

“For the love of god, keep your dogs on lead! Those paths are heavily used by cyclists and meal delivery scooters, as well as pedestrians,” Tara Yensch wrote.

“Time for a law change (with) on a leash at all times. Dogs will cope just fine, (we need to) protect people and wildlife,” Paul Davine wrote.