Exclusive | Beloved NYC swan couple torn apart after bird killed by rock-wielding maniac, raising fears about mate’s fate
The story of the East River’s famous “Swan Lake” couple has ended in heartbreak.
The beloved swans, Swanny and Odette, who have become local icons, were reported to have been harmed by a dangerous individual—someone likened to the villain Rothbart from the classic ballet. Veterinary experts say Swanny suffered severe head trauma, a condition that could not be reversed, leading to his euthanasia last month.
“Animals like these are incredibly vulnerable to careless or cruel actions,” said Rossana Ceruzzi, founder of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation on Roosevelt Island, who has worked closely with the pair. “It’s a cruel reality that people, especially those with neglectful attitudes, can cause such pain.”
Ceruzzi expressed deep concern about Odette’s future. “Seeing her alone is painful,” she said. “She’s grieving, just as any animal that mates for life would.”
For years, the duo made Hallett’s Cove in Queens their home. Residents flocked to the shore to feed them, and the pair’s swims toward Roosevelt Island were a regular visual treat, often captured on social media.
On Thanksgiving, a concerned passerby called Ceruzzi after finding an unwell bird lying on the Long Island City shoreline. The Parks Department and rangers transported Swanny to the Queens Animal Care Center the next day. The veterinarians found him alive but in “extremely poor condition”: cold, non-responsive, with sand lodged in his mouth and feathers, and suffering from possible head injuries that left him unable to lift his head or breathe comfortably.
Despite a thorough assessment, the veterinary team concluded that humane euthanasia was the only way to prevent further suffering.
No suspect has emerged from the investigation, and authorities have not publicly opened a formal inquiry. However, witnesses have reported a history of teenagers throwing rocks at the swans, including around the time Swanny was found. Ceruzzi believes the injuries were too severe to result from anything other than intentional harm by a human. She likened the perpetrator to a “Rothbart” from the famous ballet, suggesting a lone, cruel individual, perhaps a teen or someone with disturbed behavior, was responsible.
She also clarified that the swans, while not universally adored in New York, are vulnerable when resting on the beach. “They’re on the beach when they’re sleeping and so easy to target,” she said. “The ferry, for example, hasn’t caused such a death; it’s just the swans at rest that became an easy target.”
The loss is compounded by the fact that Swanny and Odette had only recently reunited after a prior separation. In March, Swanny’s wing and foot were injured by discarded netting, leading Ceruzzi and the FDNY Marine Operations to rescue and rehab him at the Wildlife Freedom Foundation, where he stayed for four months. He was reunited with Odette in August, as shown in an emotional video where the pair’s courtship played out.
Since Swanny’s death, Odette has noticeably withdrawn from Hallett’s Cove and has not returned in days. “She mourns for a long time,” Ceruzzi noted. “We’re not sure if she’ll ever come back to the same place.” She added, “It’s truly sad.”
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