Pelican enthanised after horrific lure injuries (graphic image)

Volunteer seabird carers are calling on anglers to be more responsible after a pelican that suffered horrific injuries from swallowing a fishing lure had be euthanised.

The injured bird was discovered near Lower King Bridge at about 5pm on Friday and reported to WA Seabird Rescue Albany volunteer Annette Grant.

Mrs Grant said the pelican had swallowed a 27cm, six-hooked lure, which had worked its way out through the birds’ stomach and left a deep gash under the bird’s right wing.

She said it appeared the pelican had tried to remove the lure, only for it to hook into its beak, pinning the bird’s head to its side.

“As well as the great pain the pelican would have felt, it was then unable to feed,” Mrs Grant said.

Mrs Grant and fellow volunteer Pauleen Clark took the pelican to Mira Mar Veterinary Hospital, where it was examined by Doctor Dave Warren and immediately put down because of the extent of its injuries.

“I think it is likely someone has cast out and the pelican has swallowed the lure and they have cut the line, which is what we are trying to stop people from doing,” she said.

“It is a very, very sad situation because there is every chance that pelican could have been saved if we had got to it before the lure had breached the side of the bird.”She said it was the most severely injured bird she had seen during her three years with the volunteer group, but injuries sustained from discarded fishing line and tackle were “very common.”

Mrs Grant said it was “absolutely imperative” anglers who snag seabirds do not cut the line and instead gently reel the bird in to release it, or contact WA Seabird Rescue Albany for assistance.