Due to the UK's largest-ever avian flu outbreak, the famous ravens of the Tower of London are also quarantined

UK Government Isolates 9 Ravens Living in the Tower of London in Separate Space
All Poultry and Captive Birds Quarantined to Prevent Avian Influenza Spread
Legend Says 'If There Are Fewer Than 6 Ravens Inside the Tower of London, the Monarchy Will Collapse'

A Tower of London Yeoman Warder holding a newly born Tower of London raven last year, serving as the Ravenmaster. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As the largest outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in history occurs in the UK, the famous ravens of the Tower of London have also been placed in quarantine.

According to a report by The New York Times (NYT) on the 11th (local time), the UK’s Royal Household Property (HRP), which manages the Tower of London, announced in a statement that nine ravens residing at the Tower were quarantined in a separate space in accordance with the UK government’s AI containment guidelines. Earlier, on the 7th, the UK government ordered all poultry and captive birds to be quarantined to prevent the spread of AI within the country. An HRP spokesperson said, “We are expanding the quarantine space to provide the ravens with a larger area during the isolation period,” adding, “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow government guidelines.” Tourists can still observe the ravens from a distance during the quarantine period.

The Tower of London’s Ravens Are Called ‘Guardians of the UK’

The ravens of the Tower of London are no ordinary birds. Known by the nickname ‘Guardians of the UK,’ many legends and beliefs have been passed down about the Tower’s ravens. The most well-known legend states that if there are fewer than six ravens inside the Tower of London, the British monarchy and the Tower itself will collapse. This legend traces back to an ancient myth in which Bran the Blessed, a figure from British mythology, was mortally wounded in battle and, before dying, left a will saying he would protect the country even after death and instructed that his head be buried on White Hill. The current Tower of London was built on White Hill, and when ravens flew to the Tower, people believed the king was protecting the nation.

The practice of keeping ravens at the Tower of London began in earnest in 1660. At that time, King Charles II of England, who had first ascended the throne ten years earlier but was exiled to France during the civil war, returned to the throne in 1660 after many hardships. One day, Charles II heard the legend about the ravens and ordered that six ravens be kept at the Tower of London, as Bran the Blessed and his six companions were six in number. Since then, keeping six ravens at the Tower became a royal tradition, and to prepare for the possibility of a raven’s death, at least seven ravens have been kept.

Greetings from Tower Guards, Veterinary Care, Special Meals, and Vitamin Intake

The ravens living at the Tower of London have received special care from the British royal family. Every morning, they receive greetings from the Tower guards, undergo veterinary check-ups once a week, and are fed special meals including 170g of raw meat and rabbit meat daily, along with vitamin supplements. Among the Tower guards, there is even a dedicated position called the raven master. In January last year, a raven named ‘Merlina’ living at the Tower disappeared, causing a nationwide uproar. Eventually, the Tower of London announced via Twitter, “We have very unfortunate news. Our beloved raven Merlina has not been seen at the Tower for several weeks, and this continued absence sadly suggests that she may have passed away.”

According to the UK Financial Times, over the past year, more than 200 cases of AI infection have occurred in the UK, resulting in the death of 40% of turkeys on free-range turkey farms. Currently, the AI outbreak is causing headaches not only in the UK but also in many countries across Europe. According to a report released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) earlier last month, since 2021, over 2,467 cases of infection have been reported in more than 37 European countries, and 48 million birds have been culled. This is the largest AI outbreak reported in Europe, and experts expect the outbreak to continue at least throughout this winter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.