STAFF at Abbotsbury Swannery have hit out at reports suggesting that large numbers of their birds have been killed by minks.

Every two years the swannery hosts a round-up of its flock to keep track of numbers and also to vaccinate and inspect the swans.

At the most recent round-up, there were claims from a volunteer that helped out that many of the cygnets had been 'slaughtered by minks', which was reported in a national newspaper.

The volunteer claimed around 70 per cent of those killed had fallen victim to mink attacks.

However Steve Groves, the sanctuary's swanherd, said that the impact of the minks has been "blown way out of proportion."

He said: "I have worked here for thirty years. I have seen the ups and down, the good years and the bad years. This has just been a bad year.

"We hatched about 400 cygnets and about 70 have made it to fledglings (the stage at which they can fly).

"If we get between 100 and 200 to fledge we have had a good year. It's very unlikely we ever fledge more than half.

"So it's not been a brilliant year but it's not the worst we have ever had. We have had a couple of really good years so we were due a bad one."

It had been suggested by volunteers that the flock had been decimated by minks. According to the reports the small mammals, which are native to North America, have grown in prominence since animal rights activists freed them from fur farms.

This opinion that minks are largely to blame is not shared by the swannery staff.

Mr Groves said: "They (the volunteers) were just upset that there were less cygnets than in previous years and got the wrong end of the stick.

"We have always had minks, they're not all there because animal rights activists let them free. We would rather not have the minks but it is not a catastrophe. There are other predators as well.

"Every year cygnets are preyed on by the usual British predators like gulls, crows and other members of the weasel family. That's just the way it is and the way it always has been. It's the natural chain of events.

"Like I said, we are not having a great year but the minks are not currently to blame. Hopefully next year we will bounce back."