"Grysha lives here, he'll have company." A family from Bobruisk sheltered five swans in their yard that were in trouble

The swan Grysha came to the family after poachers shot a swan family near the agrotown of Ivanovka, leaving two swans in the reeds. Indifferent people reported this to environmentalists.

This swan had a damaged wing and paw. Veterinarian Ryhor Byalyagau operated on him and decided to rehome him to "good hands" for the rehabilitation period. Lyubov Iosifovna and Alexei Nikolaevich were issued all necessary documents by the relevant authorities, as taking wild animals from nature is only permitted in special cases.

However, Grysha the swan never fully recovered his health, so he still lives with this family today. Moreover, there are now five swans in the Shushlyanikovykh's yard!

Павялічыць

"I thought, Grysha lives here, he'll have company"

"On December 29, 2025, vet doctor Ryhor Byalyagau called me and said: 'Help is needed.' Naturally, I got scared and asked: 'Who is it this time - a crocodile?!'" Lyubov Iosifovna says with a laugh. "He quickly reassured me: 'No, no, a female swan.' It turned out this bird was brought from Zhlobin, her paws and wings were severely frostbitten, and she needed to be taken in for temporary care – the frosts were starting. Naturally, I couldn't refuse. I thought, 'Grysha lives here, he'll have company.'"

That day, Grysha was walking around so sad, bored. I told him: "You don't know what a surprise awaits you this evening!" And then our female swan arrived, all hissing and wild. When Grysha saw her, he spread his wings, stretched out his neck: "Look what a guy I am!" And she walked proudly, and the name Glafira immediately stuck to her.

He followed her all evening, courting her. And when it was time for Grysha to go into his little house for the night, he accompanied Glafira, showed her where to go, and spoke in his own language. In the morning, my husband and I went to see how they were doing, wondering if Grysha might have pecked the guest during the night. But they both came out happy and proud. And from that moment on, he hasn't left her side."

When Glafira arrived at the Shushlyanikov family's home, she was one and a half years old.

Павялічыць

Plus Yusha, Vanyusha, and Malyshka

The next day, December 30, the veterinarian called the Shushlyanikovykh again. Lyubov Iosifovna, already prepared for anything, asked, "Who is it this time?!" The answer no longer surprised her much: "Two swans." It turned out that at the quarry in Charapichny, two swans had damaged wing plumage due to freezing to the ice. That's how two more swans appeared here – a boy and a girl, named Yusha and Vanyusha. The names were chosen by voting on TikTok, where Lyubov Iosifovna posts videos about her unusual pets. The new family members were seven months old at the time.

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"Grysha and Glafira pecked at them a bit at first, but quickly accepted them," Lyubov Iosifovna recounts. "So we formed a family: mom, dad, and two adopted children (she laughs)."

And on January 10, Alexei Nikolaevich took their dog to the vet for a vaccination, called his wife, and informed her that another bird needed help. In Myshkovichy, on the Ała River, a 6-month-old female swan was left with a damaged wing, and her paw was frozen into the ice, resulting in a complex fracture. And again, Lyubov Iosifovna couldn't refuse. That's how Malyshka joined them. The bird was weak; by the third day, she couldn't stand on her injured paw at all.

Павялічыць

"At first, Malyshka didn't eat anything; we had to force-feed her pills," the interlocutor says about her pet. "The female swan lived in the kitchen for about two weeks, then she was moved to the veranda, and a few days ago, she was released outside, separate from the other birds, so no one would harm her. Gradually, Malyshka felt better, but unfortunately, she still limps on one paw."

According to the veterinarian, an operation is indispensable. A plate is needed for it, which costs 560 rubles. Our heroes themselves cannot "afford" such a sum, so Lyubov Iosifovna opened an account to collect funds for Malyshka's operation.

Павялічыць

"We give them oats, barley, wheat, compound feed, vegetables"

While with her first pet, Grysha the swan, Lyubov Iosifovna initially didn't know how to behave properly, what to feed him, or how to keep him, now she no longer has such problems.

Павялічыць

"The first few days, our new pets didn't eat anything; in any case, they were stressed," she says. "Then we put a basin with food for them, and two buckets of warm water. Grysha ate, Glafira, watching him, started to eat, and then the other birds followed suit. Now they all eat perfectly. We give them oats, barley, wheat, compound feed, vegetables – carrots, apples, beets. And once every two weeks, acquaintances bring a bag of cabbage scraps, which the birds happily eat."

Павялічыць

The Shushlyanikovykh buy food for the graceful birds with their own money. In January, they bought 100 kg each of barley, oats, and wheat from a private seller, paying 170 rubles, and this amount of grain lasted for a month and a half. They also bought compound feed, corn, and seeds. They use straw for bedding.

Павялічыць

At night, the swans sleep in the barn, and during the day, they play in the yard. During severe frosts, they were not released into the yard. Earlier, the Shushlyanikovykh had made a pond for Grysha in the yard, measuring 3 by 4 meters. With the increase in the swan family, it became too small, so they will enlarge the pond in spring.

Павялічыць

"If Glafira leaves us, it will, of course, be stress for Grysha"

The future fate of all the swans is still unknown.

"Nusha and Vanyusha only have damaged feathers; overall, they are healthy birds, and we very much hope that they will soon fly into their natural habitat," says the interlocutor. "And it's not that it's difficult for me to keep them: where there's one swan, there are three. But these are still wild birds; they should live freely, in water, forming their families. Grysha, it seems, will stay with us forever because he cannot fly. Glafira is still uncertain. She often goes onto a high snowdrift and tries to fly. If she leaves us, it will, of course, be stressful for Grysha. Malyshka definitely won't fly because her wing is damaged. I hope that after the operation, she will at least be able to walk normally."

Павялічыць

Given the mutual affection between Grysha and Glafira, it's logical to assume they might have cygnets. Lyubov Iosifovna was explained that once a swan pair forms, in March-April, the birds begin building a nest and lay eggs, which they then incubate for 35-38 days. A pair seems to have formed, so if Glasha doesn't fly away soon, the family might see an addition closer to summer!

Павялічыць

"Everyone steps aside for Grysha, even the important roosters"

Lyubov Iosifovna and Alexei Nikolaevich are great animal lovers. Besides the swans, they have four dogs (mongrel Shuryk, toy terriers Botsman and Denny, Gustav – a husky-laika mix, Aiza – a sheepdog-alabai mix), two cats, and parrots. Our heroes rescued almost all their pets when they were sick and weak, nursing them back to health. They also have chickens and ducks on the farm. All the animals generally get along well, with only occasional minor issues.

Павялічыць

"Periodically, Grysha spreads his wings and, with an important look, patrols the territory, enforcing order," Lyubov Iosifovna laughs. "Everyone steps aside for him, even the important roosters. When the new swans arrived, Shuryk barked at them, lunged, while little Denny protected the birds. They scolded Shuryk a few times, he thought and thought, and then decided: 'Why should I get smacked on the tail again,' and now they get along normally."

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