But the report also drew many cars full of curious spectators to the wetland, which shattered its natural silence.

"The place is popular for many wild animals, especially some migratory birds," said Huang Lide, a 48-year-old local farmer.

According to Huang, many migratory birds use the wetland as a transit hub and make their nests there year after year.

"Some of the visitors took their children to the wetland as well," Huang said. "It's more like a family trip out of curiosity."

Local farmer Zhang Xiaoluo, 58, told the Wuhan Evening News that he had seen more and more people come to observe the white swans, and some of them even set off firecrackers on the banks of the wetland.

"The birds flew away as they were scared by the noise," said Zhang.

Yang Guoxiang, a senior engineer from Hubei's wildlife protection center, suggested citizens pay thoughtful visits. "More visits don't bring more help," he said.

"Rescue activity with constructive ideas is encouraged, but it should not be for fun," he told China Daily.

Tang Zhaozi, a professor at the college of life sciences at Wuhan University, agreed.

He confirmed that rising human activity had driven some white swans away.

A netizen nicknamed Dichanlaozhang, who is also an amateur photographer, discovered the swans' tragedy on Feb 3. He quickly reported the incident to the local forestry department and posted a photo of a trapped swan online.

His picture was later forwarded by film star Yao Chen on her Sina Weibo, a major micro-blogging website in China. It attracted attention from some 17 million of her followers.

The local forestry department launched an investigation into the birds' death on Thursday.

Law enforcement officials penalized seven restaurants nearby, as they were caught selling the meat of hunted wild animals, which is forbidden by law.

According to the State Forestry Administration, at least 100,000 swans have been counted each year flying from Siberia to Central China's Poyang Lake, which is not far from Wuhan.