The swans at Ho Guom Lake were moved away during the night.

After 10 PM5/2,A group of workers loaded 12 swans onto a car and drove them away from Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi).

"The pilot project to release swans in Ho Guom Lake has been temporarily suspended due to conflicting opinions, particularly from some scientists who believe that this species is not suitable for the history and culture of Ho Guom Lake."The leaders of Hanoi Drainage Company shared withVnExpress.

The swans were moved and released into Thien Quang Lake, not far from there.

Earlier on the afternoon of February 5th, the Hanoi Drainage Company Limited released 12 white and black swans imported from Belgium on a trial basis. Many tourists and locals expressed delight at the sight of the swans swimming and flapping their wings on the lake.

However, controversy erupted.Professor Nguyen Lan Dung, a biology expert and also someone consulted by Hanoi's leaders on the idea, stated that,Releasing swans into Ho Guom Lake is a reasonable approach, creating a beautiful landscape without harming the environment.

Disagreeing, Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc argued that Ho Guom Lake is a cultural and spiritual site for the whole country, so introducing any animals there must be done cautiously. He suggested that swans should only be released during the Tet holiday to create a joyful atmosphere, and should not be kept there long-term.

According to Mr. Duc, swans have been domesticated, so they are unable to forage for food and usually live in the North, unable to tolerate the heat in the summer, requiring specialized care that is quite complex and expensive.

"Ho Guom Lake is not a place where you can release just any animal. If swans are kept here long-term, it will turn into a swan lake, or at the very least, they might release wild ducks. Let's keep Ho Guom Lake as it is," Mr. Duc said.