The City of Orlando is relocating its iconic swans from Lake Eola Park following a years-long battle with deadly bird flu outbreaks.
City officials first confirmed in 2024 that four swans found dead in the park were killed by the illness. The most recent outbreak in 2026 killed 29 swans. The significant loss, along with upcoming development planned for the park, was enough to push the city to pause the decades-long Lake Eola Park swan program.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reviewed the care and management of the swans, and the city ultimately determined it would be “increasingly difficult” to consistently meet care requirements in an active urban park with major construction plans…