whats the law in reguards to killing and eating swans?

Question

I'm not to sure but don't all swans that live in England belong to the queen and if you kill one, you will be given punishment of death.

I'm only asking because a couple of refugee's killed and ate a swan (because they had nothing else to eat) -'' what happened to the food stamps hey?''

Answer 1

You're right only the royal family can eat swan. Something to do with a superstition about when all the swans are gone the royal family will fall, so i'm guessing a bernard matthews franchaise is not in the forseeable future.



Also Swan is supposed to taste awful i heard it from an aussie friend of mine, not sure how she knew!

Answer 2

The killing of any swan within the UK is governed by statue. Even accidental deaths must be reported to the police. As for the penalty for killing one deliberately is certainly not death (High Treason, Mutiny with Violence, Arson of a royal Naval port, and piracy on the high seas are the four crimes which have got a mandatory death penalty) but you can be sent to prison for it though.



You must not eat such meat until the Crown has given permission to do so.

Answer 3

"Punishment of death...???" You don't even get that for killing and eating the entire Royal Family, let alone a Swan. (You might get a medal for bravery if you managed a whole "Princess Michael of Kent" mind you.)



You can eat swan in the UK, but you have to get permission from the Queen first.

Answer 4

As far as I am aware they belong to the Queen. How dare these people kill and eat our swans. Were they reported and caught and punished?

Answer 5

It is inaccurate to say that all swans belong to the Queen. two livery companies of the City of London, the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Worshipful company of Dyers, also own swans in London. See the link below:



http://www.vintnershall.co.uk/

Answer 6

Yes it is against the law to kill swans as they are a protected species in this Country - I think you get a hefty fine and have to do community service as a punishment.

Answer 7

Only the Queen can eat swan apparently.

Answer 8

In America, swans are a protected species and the fine for killing one is substantial.

Answer 9

It is illegal to kil or eat swans, but not punishment by death, this is extraordinary, its big bird ti kill, and very cruel, coz this time of the year, its mating time and babies are going to die without mum, if itas female, I feel sorry these folk have no food, but what happened to Welfare???

Answer 10

They do belong to the crown but if they had nothing else to eat and were hungry enough to Kill and eat it, as long as they didnt waste any of the eatable parts then i dont see anything wrong with it. We kill cows and pigs and no one complanes about that so......

Answer 11

I dont think you can be put to death any more but you are right that the swans are protected by the crown.

Answer 12

They belong to the queen and only she has the right to kill u.

Answer 13

elizabeth windsor owns 'em. i think they're a protected species in most of europe. tough wee buggers they are too wouldnt have been an easy job to catch and kill

Answer 14

Mmmm.

Swan

Probably tastes like Goose, they would need a big oven.

Answer 15

" Death" send them back from were they came and eat they own swans

Answer 16

only the queen and cambridge university are allowed and i doubt if these immigrants are at university !

remember the film with david jason, 'porterhouse blues'

Answer 17

You have to kill them first before you eat them.

Answer 18

god no you can`t kill swans that is againt the law.

Answer 19

If you manage to make it look like the bird flu did it, you might get away with it...

Answer 20

You can only legally eat them with mayonnaise. Salad cream is illegal.

Answer 21

you could all the rspca and tell them what heppened but i dont think they realy do to many exicutions any more. but its worth looking in to it.

Answer 22

yes, they do belong to the crown

Answer 23

It tastes delicious!

Answer 24

How the hell did they fit it in the oven??

Answer 25

dunno - never heard of any laws against swans.