The Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator, is a conservation success story for collaboration between those preserving the wild stock and captive breeders. The US population was down to 40 birds in 1931. The Canadian government gifted her late Majesty 5 wild caught birds in 1952 which she placed in the care of Sir Peter Scott at Slimbridge. All our UK birds are descended from these 5 birds. Due to conservation work and legal protection they were removed from the IUCN list of endangered species in 1971.
The Trumpeter Swan has a sustainable UK population due to a few dedicated breeders. A resurgence of interest in the Arctic Swans has seen an increase in the number of people now keeping them although due to the space they require it limits the number of collections that can accommodate them.
They are the largest swan and are called trumpeters for their loud call which can travel long distances. Trumpeter Swans are very territorial and can be aggressive if mixed with other wildfowl. It is a long-lived bird; once pairs are established they can successfully breed for 20 years.
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