A swan found injured last week in Prospect Park died.

The young swan -- named John Boy Walton -- was taken by Animal Care and Control to "Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation" in Massapequa Long Island.

Rehabilitator Bobby Horvath says the swan's legs were not moving. He says the swan may have been attacked by other swans, but since no tests were conducted, the exact cause of death had not been determined.

The same day the swan was found hurt, a duck was also found dead.

  (Photo courtesy of Stephen Brown/WPIX)

Two dismembered chicken heads found at the shore of a Propect Park lake

It's just the latest string of mysterious animal deaths over the span of two weeks around the park's lake.

Park officials are trying to figure out who is responsible for mutilating the animals - which include chickens, turtles and rodents - and disposing them on the park grounds.

"I first noticed it about two weeks ago when I saw a blood trail on a stone path near the lake," park goer Henry Sarrow stated. "And then when I get closer I see a ton of chicken body parts. I almost threw up --who could do such a thing?"

At first, officials suspected that the recent slaughter was related to religious rituals, specifically those linked to Santeria. However, the theory is no longer being considered, Assistant Commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation Tupper Thomas revealed.

"We feel that somebody has probably been bringing in the chicken parts and the entrails, brought it in and dumped it there for God only knows what reason," she said.

Thomas stated that the Parks Department will be testing the water in the lake for any signs of contamination. Residents believe the water may be behind some of the animal deaths including a number of birds as well as a sick swan that is currently being treated by the Animal Care & Control. As far as the animal mutilation -- that remains a mystery.

"We have our Parks Department officials and police now looking for people who have might seen anything that happened here, to see who it is bringing all these things here," Thomas said.

The finding of dismembered animals isn't all that uncommon in the New York area. In July 2009, two mutilated animals were found in a Fort Wadsworth park on Staten Island. The animals, believed to be goats were removed and later reported to officials with the New York City Police Department. The bizarre incident was later linked to Santeria.

Reference:

WPIX