Three teenagers were arrested in the northeastern United States after allegedly killing and eating a swan they thought was a duck, police said. The bird, named Faye, was killed over the weekend on a pond in Manlius, a suburb of Syracuse in New York state, according to a statement from the local police department.
According to Manlius police Sgt. Kenneth Hatter, the suspects stole Faye’s four children with the intention of keeping them as pets. The baby swans were recovered alive at a nearby store, where one of the suspects worked, and at a private residence.
Unfortunately, Faye was not as lucky. “Family and friends consumed the adult swan. They thought it was a very large duck,” Hatter said at a press conference Tuesday. He added that they did not know the animal was not wild but belonged to the town of Manlius.
The suspects, ages 18, 17, and 16, were arrested and face charges including property crimes, theft, and trespassing, according to Hatter.
Swans have been a symbol of Manlius, a small town of about 4,600 people, since they were introduced to its pond in the early 20th century, authorities said.
Mayor Paul Whorrall expressed sadness at the incident and told local media that it was like losing a family member.