Group blocks new bird’s release

An unnamed male Australian black swan meant to replace the beloved Rupert, who was accidentally killed this month, will indefinitely remain in an animal hospital after the California Department of Fish and Game put a stop to plans to release the bird into Upper Newport Bay.

An anonymous local man bought the swan to essentially replace Rupert, the Australian Black Swan killed by a Harbor Patrol boat racing to an emergency call, said Dr. Jim Rich, veterinarian at the animal hospital. The man was also looking to buy a female swan.

Gay Wassall-Kelly, who was Rupert’s caretaker, said she knows people loved Rupert and are struggling with his loss, so the impulse to seek a replacement is understandable. But she stressed no one can replace the black swan that lived in the bay for about 15 years.

“People are not thinking it out,” she said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime that we had Rupert last so long, and he was special, and there’s just not going to be another Rupert.”

Because the swan is a nonnative species, Fish and Game is not likely to ever OK the release because its mission is to protect native species in ecological reserves, said Steve Martarano, a department spokesman.

“It’s just what it can do to the ecosystem,” he said. “It messes with the natural order of things, and that’s why our mission of the Fish and Game is to protect native wildlife by avoiding putting nonnative wildlife with natives if at all possible.”

The swan arrived at the Newport Center Animal Hospital-Pet Hotel Suites on Tuesday and has been eating well, Rich said. Animal hospital workers were advised not to have much contact with the swan because the donor was interested in releasing it into the wild and not domesticating it.

Debbie McGuire, wildlife director for the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, which cared for Rupert and his mate Pearl on several occasions, said the wildlife center would not condone releasing the swan for the same reasons cited by Fish and Game.

She agreed with Wassall-Kelly that replacing Rupert is impossible and that it’s not a good idea to release a new swan because it would imperil the swan and the native wildlife.

“People loved Rupert so much, and we became used to him,” Wassall-Kelly said. “They just don’t know what do to, they’re trying to reach out, but I don’t think they understand the dangers.”

Rather than spending money purchasing new swans for Newport, Wassall-Kelly suggested people instead make donations to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, which rescues and cares for native animals. Fish and Game gave the center special permission to care for Rupert since he was nonnative.

Introducing a new species can strain native wildlife, said John Scholl, a Fish and Game environmental scientist.

“We assume as biologists that all natural environments are living at the highest capacity and something has to die for this new member to come in and survive,” he said.

Rich did not return a message left through the hospital as to what will happen to the swan in his care. McGuire suggested the owner look into private properties like golf courses that sometimes become homes for swans and other species.

The swan should be OK in its “hotel suite” for now, but a prolonged stay could be detrimental to its health because the species usually needs a softer ground surface or water to live in. For now, it’ll remain at the hospital eating seeds, drinking water and looking at itself in the mirror.

Those who wish to help remember Rupert will have their chance Saturday for a traditional Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony organized by McGuire and the Imua Outrigger Canoe Club. The group will meet at 8 a.m. at the United States Coast Guard station, 1911 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the ceremony at the mouth of the bay scheduled for 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Wassall-Kelly is asking for donations to the Wetlands and Wildlife Center.