SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- An ill black swan was taken from the Desert Trails Golf Course on Sunday and staff members are pleading for its return before it dies.

"Louise" had been recuperating from a serious illness caused by an intestinal virus and was only recently put back on the lake after being cared for by two of the Recreation Centers' swan volunteers.

"Please just put Louise back in her enclosure, no questions asked," said Jackie Van Ogtrop, Wildlife Services Coordinator. "Please bring her back so we can start taking care of her again."

Volunteers Jeanne Moore and Connie Erwig had been nursing Louise back to health with the help of a local veterinarian, staff members said.

The bird had a serious virus and was still being tube-fed. The volunteers took turns keeping the swan at their homes, even allowing her to stay in one of their bathtubs as she recuperated, staff members said.

Since returning to Desert Trails, Louise had been kept in an enclosure at the lake.

There were no signs of a coyote attack or other wildlife encounter that could account for her disappearance, said Katy O'Grady of Recreation Centers of Sun City West.

She and her mate, George, were purchased last year to add to the Recreation Centers' wildlife. They were the first Australian black swans at the association's golf courses and they were named by residents in a contest that drew more than a hundred enthusiastic responses, O'Grady said.

This was not the first time someone has tried to take a swan from the association golf courses. In January, someone attempted to take one of the white swans at Deer Valley Golf Course, but that swan, an aggressive bird named "Billy," fought off his attacker and escaped unharmed.

Anyone with information on the black swan should contact Wildlife Services Coordinator Jackie Van Ogtrop at 623-544-6145.