Seagull caught in fishing tackle rescued
The bird was drowning due to the fishing line and weight wrapped around its body.
A group of passionate animal lovers jumped into action to rescue an injured juvenile seagull.
Jane Franz of Marina Beach discovered the seagull with a huge hook through its beak.
To make matters worse, the poor bird was knotted up in a fishing line with a big weight on it.
“The bird was drowning and caught underneath a log in the middle of the lagoon,” said Franz.
She put out a plea for help, and locals got together to make the rescue possible.
She thanked Denise Downing for lending them her paddle ski, her son Marc Franz for paddling out and cutting the bird free and bringing it to her to wrap in a towel to reduce stress, Jacques Sellshop for dashing off for bolt cutters, Dr Leon Bruggermann and staff for seeing her immediately with her patient, and Janine Strydom for donating sardines.
Franz put the bird in her aviary to rest and recover.
“I was quite badly bitten while holding it against my chest to put it in the aviary. My hands were scratched when I went in to give it food and water,” she said.
After the seagull had a good night’s rest in the aviary, Franz said it was quite a handful in the morning.
“I released it at Kent Bay, where it bit my hand hard for good measure before it realised it was free and headed straight out to sea. The backdrop on the calm ocean was dotted with multiple whales breaching and tail slapping. What a glorious sight!”
An angry, feisty bird is an excellent sign, said Franz, and added that she will wear her bruises with joy!
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