A man filmed removing a swan from the Vltava River in Prague has been identified as a repeat offender with a long history of illegal animal trade, according to bird protection experts.

The incident took place on January 21 along the riverbank in Prague 5. A witness recorded the moment when the man pulled a swan from the water and placed it into a transport container. The footage was later handed over to police.

The man parked his car directly next to the river access ramp on Nábřežní Street. He wore rubber boots and had a pet carrier ready inside the vehicle. After approaching the water, he caught one of the swans and secured it inside the container.

The non-profit group Run and Help Shelters later confirmed it was in contact with the witness and passed all available details, including the car’s license plate, to police.

Online discussions following the video suggested the man may be the same individual detained by municipal police in 2021 near a railway bridge in Prague, where swans were also taken from the river.

That suspicion was confirmed by Karel Makoň, head of the Voluntary Ecological Society for the Protection of Birds. Makoň, who regularly monitors swan populations in Prague, said the suspect is a veterinarian and poultry breeder from South Bohemia.

During a previous inspection, several identification rings belonging to Prague swans were found in the man’s possession. According to Makoň, multiple veterinarians later confirmed both the man’s identity and the vehicle used in the latest incident.

Makoň says the man has been active in illegal animal trading for years. He has been detained, fined, and prosecuted in several countries for transporting protected animals, including birds of prey, owls, waterfowl, parrots, and dogs. According to experts, financial penalties have not stopped him.

The swans are allegedly sold through classified ads to private collectors and exhibitions.

From a legal standpoint, the situation remains complicated. The mute swan is not classified as a specially protected species under Czech law. It is not listed as game and does not have a legal owner.

While European Union regulations provide general protection, catching or keeping swans without a permit is treated as an administrative offense, not a criminal one.

Because wild swans are not considered property, their removal does not legally constitute theft. Authorities and conservationists agree current legislation leaves limited room for enforcement.

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