Warning

Fishing line with attached sinker were tangled tightly around the wing of this pelican.

Fishing line protruding from the neck of this poor pelican.

This is exactly what we have been trying to get people to understand - the devastation careless fishing practices can and will cause.

A call came for help at 8.30 the other night from a concerned member of the public, Dane, who spotted this bird and managed to catch her and hold her until Australian Seabird Rescue team member Kate got there. The pelican was in an area known for foxes and dogs so she was fortunate Dane cared enough to call. 

Sadly for this pelican though the outcome was fatal. With fishing line around her wing and a large sinker attached, it had become so tight it had cut off the circulation, so this girl was dying a slow horrible death.

Into overnight care with Kate to make her as comfortable as possible. It was discovered in the daylight she also had a piece of fishing line protruding from her neck but no hook in sight - it had started to travel internally in her body dispelling another myth that hooks either rust away or fall out - this also would eventually killed her as it got further into her body.

Off to the vet that morning she was very sadly euthanized. A breeding female that has died unnecessarily - it just breaks my heart!

Please - once again - please be careful out there while you're enjoying the fishing. It's so easy to avoid a tragedy like this. The fisherperson has it seems just cut the line without thinking of the consequences.

Take care - thanks Kate for your devotion regardless of the late hour and your visitors.

Betty