Deceased swans continue to be found in the Sarre Penn area following a suspected pollution incident and/or bird flu.
More than 30 swans and hundreds of fish have now been found dead in the Sarre Penn Stream and River Wantsum which flows into the River Stour. The waterways are connected to all the drainage across the marshes from Minnis Bay to Pegwell.
A deceased mink has also be found.
The cause of the deaths may be linked to pollution and/or bird flu- both possibilities are being investigated by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Reports started at the end of last month with dead wildlife at west Stourmouth. An alert was then issued by Kent Wildlife Rescue Service member Johnny Allen earlier this month.
He has been collecting the deceased wildlife but says no authority will take on the responsibility of disposing of then and so Kent Wildlife Rescue Service is now raising funds to pay for a cremation service.
Today (November 19) Johnny is responding to an alert of three deceased swans and two adult swans with three cygnets in distress.
He said: “Kent Wildlife Rescue has arranged for independent biopsy of any fresh carcass that I retrieve today.
“I’m informed that the EA are going to open the sluice gate, use the tide and wash the toxin out to sea.
“Government authorities have been unable to identify the type of contamination, which is very worrying.
“I’ve been also informed that the EA are currently electro fishing to relocate as many of the remaining fish before the great flush.
“Worryingly EA have made no attempt to recover the deceased swans or assist the distressed birds.”
Environmental activist Nik Mitchell is urging people to follow official advice to not touch any dead or visibly sick birds or fish; keep dogs on lead and away from the water’s edge and wildlife and to report immediately if anyone finds a single dead swan, duck, goose, or bird of prey, or any cluster of dead animals.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Specialist officers have been at the scene of a pollution incident in north Kent that sadly killed several thousand fish. Around six kilometres of a stream known as Sarre Penn and the adjacent River Wantsum, near Canterbury, are affected.
“Although conditions in the stream are improving, water samples have been taken, and we are working to establish the source.
“Anyone with information on this incident or any suspected pollution in our rivers and streams is asked to contact the Environment Agency’s 24-incident hotline: 0800 807060.”
Queries have been raised over whether there is any connection to borehole drilling and possible contamination of the aquifer. Other concerns are that if the toxin is washed out to sea it could end up in water at Pegwell Bay.
Donate to the Kent Wildlife Rescue Service via their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/601356383316706
The Sarre Penn flows from below the large, active Shelford Quarry Landfill site at Canterbury, could the pollutants be coming from there? Worrying if they are, as the Sarre Penn valley is where the Broad Oak Reservoir is due to be built to supply drinking water to all those new housing estates.
Tragic , animals suffer , few care or notice . As long as all the new build continues who cares .
As long as the water companies make record profits and pay their dividends and bills go up and are allowed to go up nothing will change.
Companies should be forced to sort out this mess and should be heavily regulated. Ridiculous it’s got to this point