25 May 2012

Hooked Bird Provides Painful Reminder

Another native bird has undergone treatment at Wellington Zoo’s The Nest Te Kōhanga after suffering needlessly due to discarded fishing gear. The SPCA brought a New Zealand Pied Cormorant to Wellington Zoo, after it was found in a miserable state. X-rays revealed two fishing hooks firmly embedded in the lower oesophagus, right next to the heart. The two hooks were still attached to fishing line, which had wrapped around the bird’s foot.

“The length of the line shows that someone had to cut it; knowing that the bird had swallowed the hooks,” said Dr Lisa Argilla, Veterinary Science Manager at Wellington Zoo. “Leaving a bird in this state will only cause slow and painful death due to septicaemia, or blood poisoning, and peritonitis – where the fish hook had penetrated through the oesophagus and allowed food material to spill into the chest cavity.”

Despite surgical efforts to remove the hooks, the Pied Cormorant did not survive.

“One of the hooks was very close to the bird’s heart, and caused serious injury,” explained Dr Argilla. “We did what we could, but there was too much damage and the Pied Cormorant did not make it through.”

This is the second incident of fishing gear related bird injuries that the Vet Team at the Zoo has encountered this month. A Red-Billed Gull was also treated after swallowing a fishing hook, and is now recovering well at The Nest Te Kōhanga.

“The Red-Billed Gull had a complex surgery to remove a 2.5cm hook from its stomach,” Dr Argilla said. “We’re relieved that this little guy is recovering so well and becoming very boisterous!”

“But seeing two cases in quick succession makes it a timely reminder that people need to leave natural areas as they found them,” said Dr Argilla. “Take your fishing gear with you. It may seem like a small piece of equipment, but it can have a devastating impact on our wildlife. If a bird does get hold of your line, you can cut it free – but please contact the Department of Conservation or the SPCA so that someone can bring the bird in for care.”

DOC rangers can be contacted on 0800 DOCHOTline (0800 362 468).

Wellington Zoo is a charitable trust principally funded by the Wellington City Council

ENDS

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