ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates learned a key video that could help determine what happened to six baby swans at Lake Eola doesn’t exist because the IRIS cameras in the park were not working the night the swans disappeared.
City Commissioner Patty Sheehan has been very vocal about the thefts of the swans and was upset to learn the cameras in the park were not working, and many of them haven’t been for about a year.
In an email, the city said, “An issue was identified with the cameras experiencing intermittent power outages last year. The cameras were down the night of Monday, April 5.”
That’s the same night six bay swans, which are called cygnets, disappeared from their nest.
While there is no camera in the vicinity of the nest, another camera nearby could have captured what happened to the swans.
Sheehan said she learned about the cameras Thursday, and was told a work order was put in to fix them.
“We need to prioritize these cameras. (It’s) very important people rely upon them and it’s a liability issue if someone gets harmed,” she said.
Those walking around the lake said without working cameras, they don’t feel safe.
“The city needs to ensure public safety,” said Orlando resident Dax Miller.
The city paid $4.1 million for the IRIS cameras around the city and 9 Investigates has reported numerous issues with the cameras.
The city said it has reclassified a position that will solely focus on maintaining the IRIS cameras and managing outages.
Meanwhile, the animal rights group PETA is offering up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest for the person or persons who took the newborn cygnets.
Orlando police said the baby swans were born on Sunday, and were last seen on Monday night at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.
On Tuesday morning, a ranger at Lake Eola heard the mother swan screaming in distress and discovered her six babies were gone.%
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"These gentle, delicate baby swans are less than a week old and may be in grave danger without their mother," said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. "PETA is urging anyone with information about the babies' whereabouts or their abductor's identity to come forward immediately to save these missing birds from a gruesome fate."
Sheehan said she’s worried someone stole the cygnets and that they could be harmed or sold for profit.
Cox Radio has offered a $1,000 reward until Saturday for information on the missing swans. WDBO and WFTV are part of Cox Media Group.
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