ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – When you stop by Lake Eola, it’s hard to miss the white feathers and long-necked swans. Unfortunately, one man decided to take the life of a young swan that had just been released into the park a week ago.
District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan called the incident heartbreaking.
“It’s heartbreaking. It was a person who was clearly mentally ill,” she said.
According to Sheehan, the attack happened around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, when a transient man walked up behind the young mute swan and twisted its neck. She said the man was arrested while still carrying the dead body.
“We hope that people will come to beautiful Lake Eola Park to enjoy our wildlife, to enjoy the swans. But there are, unfortunately, people who have mental issues or problems, and this person decided to take it out on a helpless, defenseless animal, which is disgusting,” Sheehan said.
OPD confirmed the man, who is not being identified due to a possible mental illness, is charged with third-degree grand theft and animal cruelty.
This is not the first time swans at Lake Eola have faced danger from humans.
In 2021, a man was arrested after being recorded snatching two baby swans from their nest.
“Part of the reason why we have the feeding program, the vaccination program—so swans can be big enough to protect themselves. If you ever try to pick one up, they can be pretty scrappy,” Sheehan explained.
She added that there are several security measures in place around the lake, including cameras and park rangers monitoring the swans.
“For the most part, our swans are out on the lake. They are protected. In this situation, it was the fact that it was a juvenile. It did not have that protective mode yet because we had just released them,” said Sheehan.
The man’s bond is set at $7,000.