Eels take over Elgin’s Cooper Park pond – and halt drainage works
The eels will have to be safely removed from the mud and shallow water and relocated before works resume
Rescue efforts are underway after eels were discovered in Cooper Park’s largely drained pond, prompting the council to call for specialist help.
The find has temporarily halted works to remove sludge and mud from the site until they can be relocated.
It’s not known just how many eels have been found in the pond.
It has been suggested they may have made their way into the water during recent spells of heavy rain.
But other locals have suggested they have called the pond home for some time.
No matter how or when they arrived, works have been halted until they can all be rescued from the largely drained pond.
Moray Council confirmed it is aware of the eels and “receiving ecological support”.
Work has been underway since February to remove sludge and excess mud from the park’s pond.
A Moray Council spokeswoman said: “The council was notified by the project’s ecological clerk of works working with us on this project, who identified the eels in the pond.
“All works that could adversely impact the eels have been stopped until they can be relocated.
“We are providing resource to support this.”
News of its surprise residents comes just weeks after another rescue mission at Elgin’s Cooper Park ended in heartbreak.
A female swan was saved from the muddy pond back in early March, but had to be put to sleep.
The council said the next phase of work at the pond, which is currently fenced off, includes clearing the remaining sludge.
The pond is expected to be refilled in June.
[Source: Press and Journal]
