Skip to main content

Firefighters rescue swan stuck in frozen Connecticut river

NORWALK, Conn. (AP) — Firefighters came to the rescue of a swan that was stuck in a frozen Connecticut river this week.

Norwalk Fire Department crews donned cold-water rescue suits and used ropes to carefully move out onto the Norwalk River on Tuesday. They soon found the swan’s feet were frozen into the ice, and it took them about 30 minutes to free the bird and bring it to shore without incident.

It’s not clear how long the swan may have been stuck before it was discovered, and firefighters initially were concerned it had died. But as they approached, they noticed movement and quickly became optimistic about their rescue effort.

Deputy Chief Jonathan Maggio said the swan appeared grateful for the rescue, noting the bird was “just happy to be out of the ice.” The swan was taken to a veterinarian center, which reports it’s doing well and is expected to make a full recovery. Once it regains its strength, the swan will be properly released.

This was not the department’s first animal rescue during the recent stretch of bitterly cold and stormy weather. Crews also rescued a duck and a dog, but said saving the swan also gave them a valuable opportunity to train for future ice rescues.

Buffalo named Donald Trump for his golden locks is a sensation at a Bangladesh zoo

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — With his shock of golden hair and trim 700-kilogram (1,500-pound) build, Donald Trump has been drawing crowds from across Bangladesh since he arrived at the national zoo last week. The rare albino buffalo became a sensation when a farmer noticed that his blond tuft of hair resembled the distinctive locks of the U.S. president. After a video of the pale horned mammal went viral on social media, large numbers of people started showing up at the farm outside Dhaka to see him for themselves. The animal was originally meant to be slaughtered for the Muslim festival of sacrifice. But citing security concerns, the government ordered him transferred to the zoo in the capital, where large crowds are now braving sweltering heat to see him. On Tuesday, visitors pressed against the fence of the buffalo's enclosure, filming with their phones as some fathers hoisted small children on their shoulders for a better view.
Read Next Story