PHOTO BY STUART BARTLETT VIA UNSPLASH.COM
The City of Orlando is “pausing” its captive swan program at Lake Eola Park and rehoming all 44 adult swans and five cygnets before construction begins this fall on the Lake Eola Park Master Plan renovations.
Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the decision this week after consulting with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about meeting state requirements for captive wildlife care in an active urban park, while preparing for major construction.
“The well-being of the swans we care for that have been a staple of Lake Eola Park remains our highest priority,” Dyer said. “That is why, after consulting closely with state and federal partners, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, we have decided to pause the program and work with partners in animal care to rehome them.”
The city’s swan flock experienced significant losses earlier this year due to avian influenza. Since then, city officials reviewed FWC requirements and determined that consistently meeting those standards during the extended construction period would be increasingly difficult.
Jody Buyas, Interim Parks Division Manager, and Avery Boger, Signature Parks and Events Program Manager, shared with Orlando Shine that the city is working with FWC-licensed partners to rehome the birds long-term. Cygnets and eggs will be moved in the coming days, with all swans rehomed by early fall.
Wild swans in Orlando will likely continue to visit Lake Eola Park and be visible to park visitors, though they will not be managed or cared for by city staff. These free-ranging birds are not part of the city’s captive flock, and the city will continue to encourage park visitors not to feed the wildlife.
The city has paused all donations to the swan program and is contacting donors individually to discuss their contributions.
The Lake Eola Park Master Plan is a multi-phase project currently in the negotiation stage. The first phase focuses on three key improvements: relocating the swan boat dock closer to the Lake Eola House, adding a walkway behind the amphitheater, and implementing drainage improvements with potential seawall updates.
No construction timeline has been established yet, as the city is refining project designs and reaching a final pricing agreement for the first phase.
Andrea Otero, the Public Information Manager for the Office of the Mayor, reiterated that this is not the definite end of the swan program, stating that city staff will continue to discuss what the program could and should look like if/when it comes back following the park renovations, saying, “The well-being of the swans remains our highest priority. While it is difficult to see them leave Lake Eola Park, pausing the program and responsibly rehoming the flock is the most compassionate and responsible step forward for their long-term health.”
