Rupert the swan released after close call

-- Alex Coolman

The black swan that was nearly killed when it swam through diesel fuel

in Newport Harbor last week was returned to the wild Monday after

recuperating from its injuries.

Rupert the swan, a fowl favorite among locals, had been resting up at

the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach in the wake of

his mishap Aug. 8.

The swan was nearly dead when it was rescued by Harbor Patrol

Officials.

Care center workers said that after being cleaned and fed a liquid

charcoal solution to soak up the oil he had ingested, Rupert made a

speedy recovery.

Harbor Patrol authorities said the fuel that the swan wandered into

was probably from a small leak, not large enough to warrant an

investigation.