THE most famous Slimbridge Bewick’s swan pair were finally reunited on Tuesday when 25-year-old Dealer arrived at the wetlands centre six weeks late.
Croupier, 26, the leader of the ‘The Gambling Dynasty’, one of the biggest Bewick’s swans families ever studied at WWT Slimbridge, arrived at the reserve in December and has been without its partner Dealer until it arrived on Tuesday.
The couple have been together for 19 years and have raised 29 cygnets.
WWT’s senior ecosystem health officer Julia Newth said: “We are so happy to see this faithful pair reunite.
“Bewick’s swans risk starvation, illegal shooting, lead poisoning, wind turbines and power lines to survive the gruelling 4500km migration and sadly not all of them make it.
“So when Croupier arrived alone, we feared it was end of an era for this famous couple.
“Few families have demonstrated these birds’ characteristic loyalty to each other and the sites they visit as well as The Gamblers.
“We hope to see them continue to winter at Slimbridge for many years to come.”
Families tend to be the dominant groups on Swan Lake and Croupier is from one of the oldest dynasties, which have ruled Slimbridge since the sixties.
Croupier’s grandfather Nijinsky began wintering at Slimbridge in 1969. His mum Casino, at 27, was one of WWT’s longest living wild swans, safely escorting 34 cygnets from Russia to Slimbridge during her lifetime.
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