In Honour of Rasputin, by Danette Wereta

I was called by Lil Quaks to say that a swan had been reported at Pegasus (in Canterbury) with a broken wing and it looked like an old injury. Lil Quaks and my team of volunteers often join up for rescues. A bit of fate brought us together, and I love them to bits. They are the only ones I know who are out on the front line doing the rescues, just like me. But they also offer refuge for animals who need recovery time or a permanent safe place if they cannot return to the wild. We make a good team, with animals being our priority.

Birds have tiny bones, so fast healing time. Given that, I reassured the team that since there was no open wound seen, the injury might already be healed, and it was a good sign he had survived so far. I said we needed to observe him first, as it’s not always best to rush in and take a bird without that time for proper assessment.

I finally got there myself on Sunday, 5 October 2025. The rain was horizontal, the cold cut through, and it was miserable. As soon as I saw him on the water across the lake, I knew. I felt my breath taken away, and the stinging start. His position told me everything. I watched him constantly jerk and preen his wing, a sign I have seen before. It confirmed my fears.

 

Everyone was saying we might have to come back later in the week as he was not interested in approaching us and he was out on the water. Swans are super nosey and come up to you, which is helpful with rescues (not like geese!), so that wasn’t a good sign. Usually, we cannot rescue a bird while it is still in the water (way too fast and smart!), and with this weather, it was unlikely he would come up on land. But deep down, I felt sick. I could not go home and sleep knowing he was there suffering, constantly picking at himself violently. 

He eventually came up to the water’s edge but would not accept any food. I got a good look at him then. He was half the size his body should have been, and when he turned, I saw the gunshot wound. I knew then. I confirmed it and set my intention. We would not be leaving him behind.

I set off home to get kayaks and call in more people. Numbers help in bird rescues. But halfway there, we got a call to say he had come up further onto the land. We raced back. Some amazing community members came out to help, and together we did the trusted circle capture, forming a wide ring to gently cut off his escape to the water and bring him safely in.

We did it. He was safe.

Jess, one of my favourite animal rescuers, did an incredible job. Her heart and determination are unmatched. She never gives up. She is strong, smart, and full of empathy. We got him into a cage, and Lil Quaks took him home where he was safe, warm, and medicated.

He had the most wise, regal energy. I felt deeply connected to him.

At the vet today, the outcome was not what we hoped. We pushed for his wing to be amputated, but his feet had severe bumblefoot. I had not heard of it before, but it happens when a bird is grounded and all the pressure goes onto its feet. It was too advanced to heal and he would always have it. Lil Quaks named him Rasputin, the perfect name for a mysterious and powerful being. And today, Rasputin went to sleep.

After what I imagine were weeks of extreme suffering, he finally had love, warmth, and care from humans. Not all of us are cruel. I am so sorry, Rasputin.

I believe his mate was probably shot too, and perhaps he was the one who got away.

It makes me sick to know that someone did this for fun. For sport. For entertainment. Swans are the King & Queen of birds –  magnificent, beautiful, and strong, shot from the sky for no reason. The pain and suffering he endured breaks my heart.

After a rescue like this, I carry the pain for days. I guess it never really goes away, but I learn to sit with it and hold it gently in my heart. I cry and hide under blankets, wishing all the awfulness in the world did not exist. But it does. We live in a world where we bicker about personhood and legal rights and all the while, things like this happen. Rasputin is killed for fun and is left to suffer. And while people were so upset and outraged this happened to Rasputin (the comments online show the love for him), they still don’t make the connection that this happens all the time, we actually have seasons for it. We promote it. We make jokes about it. We create a culture around it. 

I am so sorry Rasputin.