Dr David Elliot operates on the swan. 75632 Picture: VANESSA CHIRCOP
By Vanessa Chircop
A JUVENILE black swan with a fishing hook embedded in its head was rescued last week.
Hobsons Bay wildlife rescuers and carers Leanne Kovach and Mandy Hall found the swan at the Williamstown swan pond with fishing line hanging out of its mouth and the fishing hook in its head.
For Leanne and Mandy it was an all too familiar scene that could have been prevented.
The swan was captured by the team and transported to Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic in Newport to undergo surgery to remove the hook.
“A lot of swans get hooked while people are fishing and a lot of people just cut the line,” Leanne said.
“The animal swims away with the fishing hook caught in or on them to suffer an infection and painful death or starvation because of the ingested hook.”
Leanne and Mandy wished people would call animal rescue when this occurs instead of just leaving the animal to die.
“We understand accidents happen,” Mandy said.
Every year the volunteers rescue countless animals from possums to turtles and swans to penguins and despite their commitment not all rescues have a happy ending.
“Adult swans mate for life so it’s incredibly sad when we have to euthanise a parent from fishing line or dog attacks.”
This swan however was extremely lucky.
It survived the surgery and was released back to the pond the following day.
Mandy said she couldn’t be happier with the result.
“It was lovely – it had its parents and sibling waiting for it when we arrived.”
“The aim is for them to always go back in the wild, if they can’t go back then we have to euthanize them,” Leanne said.
Dr David Elliot who operated on the swan said if it wasn’t brought into his surgery it wouldn’t have survived.
“It would have died a very slow and painful death,” he said.
You can make a donation to Western Animal Rescue wildlife fund at Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic.
If you find wildlife injured or sick call BADGER Wildlife rescue group on 1300 223 427.
