Claim: “Migrants are catching and eating swans in Royal Parks and taking carp from ponds.”
ℹ️ Verdict: Lacks Evidence (Royal Parks); Anecdotal elsewhere
Summary: The Royal Parks charity reported no such incidents. Viral posts about swans and carp lack verification or rely on older, unrelated images. Some historic anecdotes about poaching carp exist, but they are not evidence for current, widespread behaviour.
Overview
During a radio appearance and subsequent social posts, Nigel Farage claimed that migrants were eating swans in London’s Royal Parks and taking carp from ponds. The comments were widely shared, with supporting posts showing photos and videos that users said proved the point. Within days, Royal Parks and multiple newsrooms examined the claims. They found no verified evidence of swans being killed or eaten in Royal Parks, and the most-circulated images either lacked a clear source or came from older, unrelated incidents.
What Royal Parks said
A Royal Parks spokesperson stated that they had not received reports of people killing or eating swans in any of London’s eight Royal Parks. The organisation also noted its ongoing work with the Swan Sanctuary to protect the birds and respond to welfare issues promptly.
- Royal Parks quoted denying any reports of swans being killed or eaten
- Sky News — Royal Parks responds to Farage’s claim
What Full Fact found
Full Fact reviewed the claims and could not find evidence that swans were being eaten in Royal Parks. Their explainer notes that while there have been occasional, historic anecdotes elsewhere about carp poaching, these do not amount to proof of a current pattern of behaviour by migrants. Separately, Full Fact traced one widely shared photo that allegedly showed migrants stealing a swan. Police said there was no evidence of that and that the image appeared to show someone trying to take a picture with the bird.
- Full Fact — Is there evidence for claims about migrants eating swans and taking carp?
- Full Fact — Police say there’s no evidence a viral image shows migrants stealing a swan to eat
About the circulating images and posts
Several posts used generic footage of swans or carp and captions asserting that “migrants did this.” In many cases the media lacked a time, place, or source. Where locations were identified, the context often did not match the claims. One widely shared image related to an incident at Winsford Marina in 2024, not to Royal Parks in 2025, and local police said they found no evidence that the swan was being taken to be eaten.
Carp and older anecdotes
Some past reporting and community forums have mentioned isolated carp poaching incidents, often without confirmed identities of those involved. These anecdotes are not the same as verified, current evidence about migrants, and they do not substantiate claims about Royal Parks. Without consistent, documented reports and enforcement records, broad generalisations are not justified.
Why the claim lacks evidence
- Royal Parks denial: The charity responsible for the parks says no incidents have been reported to it of swans being killed or eaten.
- Unverified visuals: Viral photos and videos typically lack verifiable sourcing or are from different times and places.
- Anecdotes vs evidence: Occasional stories about carp elsewhere are not proof of a widespread or current practice by migrants.
How to assess similar claims
- Check whether the managing authority confirms reports for the location mentioned.
- Look for a date, place, and original source for any image or video.
- Be cautious when older content is recycled to support new claims.