GREAT BEND — The three trumpeter swans have been taken off exhibit at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo due to an increase of avian influenza that is sweeping across the country, according to a media release.

Many citizens and individuals have been asking about why the swans are missing, and the zookeepers want to keep the public informed.

This type of influenza rarely infects humans but is highly communicable through the avian species. At the advice of the state veterinarian, emergency action plan has been put into place by the Great Bend zookeepers where the swans will be safely held in a controlled back area of the zoo until fall migration is over.

“The Trumpeters at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo are a breeding pair so they are very valuable and because they are endangered we want to keep them as safe as possible,” said zookeeper Sara Hamlin.

When the swans return to the zoo pond after fall migration, there will only be the two.

“The baby is being sent to the Emporia zoo next week so that it could be a companion for their swan,” Hamlin said.

The zoo is also temporarily stopping the sale of the bags of feed as well. The reason for this is that it brings in the wild birds and it puts local birds and birds of the zoo at a higher risk.