Mystery Illness Claims Iconic Swans in Downtown Orlando

Tue Dec 30 2025 02:43:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A dozen beloved swans at Lake Eola have died unexpectedly, raising concerns over a possible bird flu outbreak. The city awaits test results to determine the cause.

Orlando's cherished swans at Lake Eola are facing an alarming crisis as a dozen birds have recently perished, sparking fears of bird flu. With the last outbreak occurring earlier this year, officials are taking precautions while awaiting necropsy results. The swans, a historic symbol of the city, continue to attract visitors despite the tragedy.

In a troubling development, over a dozen of the iconic swans that grace downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola have died under mysterious circumstances. City officials are exploring the possibility of bird flu as the cause, although a definitive answer awaits necropsy results.

Lake Eola has been home to these swans for more than a century, becoming a beloved symbol of the city, celebrating artistry through murals and offering swan-shaped pedal boats for visitors.

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan reassured the public on social media that the deaths appear non-suspicious. However, with the holiday season affecting veterinary availability, immediate evaluations have been delayed. The swans were safely stored for tests to ascertain the cause of their untimely deaths.