Ho Chi Minh City police recover white swan stolen from zoo, arrest suspect in Tay Ninh

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens said it discovered the theft early on Monday, when staff arriving for work found that a white swan was missing from an enclosure near the flamingo area.

The zoo reviewed footage from its internal surveillance system, including cameras covering animal enclosures and parking areas, and immediately reported the incident to police in Saigon Ward, where it is located.

Officers arrived at the scene, examined evidence, and analyzed video recordings. They later identified a suspect.

Police tracked the suspect’s movements across multiple locations, first locating the individual in the Tan Phu region in the city before tracing the suspect to Duc Hoa in Tay Ninh Province, where he was detained.

The suspect later told police the swan had been sold to a buyer in Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta.

Late on Monday, a zoo veterinarian accompanied local police to Can Tho to recover the swan.

After being returned to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the white swan will be placed under quarantine as a precaution after having contact with other animals in Can Tho, the zoo said.

The white swan, scientifically known as Cygnus olor, belongs to the Anatidae family, which includes large water birds such as geese and wild ducks.

The species is widely found across parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Adult males typically weigh more than females.

The species is characterized by its fully white plumage, bright orange bill with a black base, and dark legs in males, while females usually have lighter gray or pale yellow legs.