Hadeda caught in fishing line, rescued
Family on holiday in uMhlanga rescues hadeda whose feet were tangled in fishing line.
A HADEDA, whose feet were tangled in fishing line on Bronze Bay in uMhlanga, was rescued recently. The Wessels family, who were on holiday from Greytown, spotted the distressed bird walking with some difficulty on the beach.
The bird, though able to move, looked to be struggling and had been spotted by several residents including CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife), said Colin Wessels, whose family managed to capture the bird and untangle the fishing line.
The near-tragedy comes months after a wooly necked stork died after being similarly tangled in fishing line. This has highlighted the effect and impact of fishing line on wildlife on Durban North and uMhlanga’s beaches and the greater surrounds.
Discarded fishing line is listed as number eight in the top 10 pollutants on beaches and river systems and is the most problematic of pollutants.
“We’re here for the weekend from Greytown and were staying at Bronze Bay. My daughter said she remembers seeing it when we were here a few weeks ago. We first saw it while walking past the main beach as it looked weak. We tried to catch it but it kept flying off.
“My wife Jane, who’s a vet in Greytown, was worried about it all night. Incredibly, the next morning after seeing it, the hadeda appeared on the grass outside our flat. It’s almost like he knew we could help him,” Wessels said.
“We managed to coax it near our flat entrance with food and then my wife and Wilf George, the caretaker of Bronze Bay, managed to catch it. They held it while I cut the fishing line off. Wilf also phoned CROW and they said they’ve been trying to catch it for weeks and were very pleased to hear we had sorted it out,” he said.
Wessels said he contacted the Northglen News to highlight how discarded fishing line can have far-reaching consequences.
“I don’t have a problem with fishermen. I have a problem with those leaving discarded lines on the beach and rivers which pose a danger to the wildlife.” he said.
Fishing reel bins needed
The Amanzimtoti Conservancy which has introduced fishing line recycle bins have had great success, along their coastline. A fact echoed by Birdlife Port Natal’s chairperson, Lesley Frescura.
“This is a very serious problem and one difficult to find a solution for. We have approached the city in trying to get them to replicate a very successful venture in Hermanus and Amanzimtoti, where the local conservancy has installed plastic pipes that are used as bins where fishermen can throw away their lines.
“These bins are open at the top and sealed at the bottom to prevent the fishing line from being blown away. These pipes are perfect for the job at hand as they offer outstanding resistance to corrosion and the elements. We have approached the city regarding this matter. We, as conservancies need to work with the municipality to help eradicate the problem,” Frescura said.
