Sunday 16 October 2016

INEXORABLE: SHOT!


AUSTRALIAN SEABIRD RESCUE South Coast team member, Lisa, was asked to look out for a pelican (about an hour south of Wollongong) which had a lot of fishing line around his legs and was having trouble walking.

Whilst looking for this bird she spotted a female pelican with holes on both sides of her pouch and a nasty wound to her head.

Having already met Lisa half way to collect a big male with a swollen leg that she and ASR Clare had caught and were bringing back to Wollongong, we decided if she caught the female with the holes we would ask our good mate Judy at Pyree who is with Wildlife Rescue South Coast to babysit her overnight.
Well, Lisa, caught the bird and Judy ‘baby sat’ her and kindly transported her half way to Wollongong for team member, Julie, to go down and collect her next morning.

Great team work all round and thank you everyone.

The bird has now had an operation to repair the damage, but, WHY!   The injuries were confirmed by the vet to be a BULLET!  What sort of satisfaction could this lowest form of humanity get out of shooting a harmless, defenceless creature.  She will recover but it should never have happened and one shudders at the cruelty of this warped mind for cheap thrills.
Pelican with bullet holes in pouch

By the way, Lisa, went back and caught the original bird – fixed him up and released him.  Well done, Lisa, three birds in one morning.

Thank you again, Judy (Wildlife Rescue) for housing the bird overnight and to Julie (ASR and Wildlife Rescue) for collecting her.  She is now in care for 10 days with stitches that need to heal.

Once again, if anyone sees or hears of cruelty against our wildlife both aquatic and terrestrial, please contact the Police and Australian Seabird Rescue or Wildlife Rescue who will rescue the animal – even if you think it is a false alarm.
We would rather go to ten false alarms than one dead creature.


Betty

UNFORGIVABLE

                                          
A distressed call came in from a member of the public about a Royal Spoonbill caught in the reeds.  It seemed to have an injured leg.
On locating the bird and seeing the horrific injuries, Julie asked the woman to look away.

This poor juvenile Spoonbill had been attacked by a person or persons or worse still youths.  Its legs had been struck across the ‘knees’ with such force that both legs had been smashed with bones protruding and it was left to die in agony, bleeding.

These majestic, unassuming birds spend their time quietly foraging along the shoreline for shrimps and molluscs, etc.  This juvenile was probably ‘learning the ropes’ when he was attacked by one or more monsters, having no reason to fear humans, not knowing that some low life would hurt him.
But – is this what we are becoming – uncaring, cruel monsters.
Needless to say the poor thing was immediately euthanised and I apologise to Julie that she had to witness this cruelty.  If anyone has any information please contact ASR.


Betty
Spoonbill with broken legs