A task force has been established to protect twelve swans taken out of Hoan Kiem Lake to Thien Quang Lake following public concerns over their safety. 

The swans are moved from Hoan Kiem Lake to Thien Quang Lake on February 5

According to Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company, the 10-member team have been divided into three three working shifts, including two daytime shifts, to prevent the swans on Thien Quang Lake from being stolen.

A worker from the team said people on the night shift have to use torches to check the swans to timely detect possible problems.

According to Vo Tien Hung, director of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company, this is only the firm’s temporary solution to protect the swans. In the long term, the workers may combine the rubbish collection and the swan protection at the lake during the daytime. 

Earlier, on the evening of February 5, the swans imported from Belgium were removed from Hoan Kiem Lake after just a day there. 

Hung said that the company was forced to remove the swans as they didn’t have permission and superstitious people claimed that lake was associated with now deceased turtles and should remain empty of wildlife.

The company has not yet considered releasing the swans into Hoan Kiem Lake again.

Meanwhile, Truong Minh Tien, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that earlier the department had not yet received any proposal from Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company to raise swans on Hoan Kiem Lake.

The company needs to seek the department’s permission to carry on the project.

Dtinews