Who is stealing swans on the Vltava River?
The video of a man stealing a swan on the Vltava River in the centre of Prague made news headlines this week. The incident was captured on video by a passerby, who later handed the footage over to the police. Animal welfare groups have also drawn attention to the case, saying the man has stolen swans from the river previously.
The video that has appeared on newscasts and social networks is relatively short –it shows a man on the embankment luring swans with bird food, grabbing one and carrying it to a parked car, where he locks it up in a cage in the trunk and quickly drives off. He ignores a random witness, who recorded the video, questioning the man about his actions and telling him he will report the matter to the police.
It is not the first incident of a swan being taken from the embankment. The man allegedly took two swans in this way at the end of January. And the Prague city police dealt with a similar incident back in December 2021.
Police have confirmed they are dealing with the case, but due to the ongoing investigation, have declined to provide further details — either about the man’s identity or whether it is the same individual involved in a similar incident that happened five years ago.
Animal welfare and environmental organizations have shared more information about the incident. It was highlighted online, for example, by the group Běhejme a pomáhejme útulkům and the Wildlife Rescue Station in Plzeň. According to them, the man has allegedly committed similar acts before.
An individual failure — or a legal loophole?
According to Karel Makoň, head of the Plzeň rescue station, the thefts are the work of a single individual. He is said to be a veterinarian from the South Bohemian Region with experience in breeding birds. According to Makoň, the man sells swans abroad, mainly to Germany or Slovakia.
If he does not have enough swans in his own breeding stock, he reportedly goes to capture them on the left bank of the Vltava, where access to them is easy. The birds are accustomed to being fed by people there and come within close reach. Czech Radio attempted to contact the man, but was unable to reach him.
Another complication is that swans are not a protected species and are not subject to any special registration. Nevertheless, anyone capturing, handling or keeping them would need to have a special permit. Without it, the act constitutes an offense.
According to Makoň, another issue is that the swans effectively belong to no one, meaning no specific individual has suffered property damage or loss that could be easily quantified. Police have not yet determined whether the case will be handled as a criminal offense or a misdemeanor.
