Lakeland’s swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II’s gift, get annual health checkup

Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup | iNFOnews.ca
Steve Platt, of the City of Lakeland's Parks and Recreation Dept., reaches out to catch a swan during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Dozens of swans descended from a pair gifted to the central Florida city of Lakeland by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in the 1950s were rounded up Tuesday for their annual health checkup.

The 54 swans were scooped up in a net by a parks and recreation staffer in a boat on Lakeland’s Lake Morton. They were placed in temporary pens and taken to an animal hospital to prepare for their examinations.

At the animal hospital on Wednesday, they will be weighed and checked for any infirmities, and baby swans will be microchipped.

The swan roundup is a signature event in Lakeland, a city of around 125,000 residents located between Tampa and Orlando.

Elizabeth sent the pair of swans as gifts to the city of Lakeland in 1957 after the Florida city’s swan population was depleted by disease and predators. The queen became aware of the swan situation from two former Lakeland residents living abroad and offered the pair from the royal flock living on the Thames River outside London.

The swan became the symbol of Lakeland and is found on its logo. The swan roundup started in 1980, as the lake’s swan population multiplied.

Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup | iNFOnews.ca
City of Lakeland Parks and Recreation workers Randall Pyle, left, and Dustin Collins catch a swan during the city of Lakeland’s 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup | iNFOnews.ca
Residents look at swans in a cage during the city of Lakeland’s 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup | iNFOnews.ca
Swans are kept in a cage during the city of Lakeland’s 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Lakeland's swans, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II's gift, get annual health checkup | iNFOnews.ca
Bryan Soroka, of the City of Lakeland’s Parks and Recreation Dept., moves swans to a pen during the city of Lakeland’s 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles