Lori-Ann Shibish from Esperance SWIRL and Dr Alex Hockton treat the sick young pelican at the Esperance surgery prior to rehabilitation at Esperance Wildlife Hospital. Photo: Esperance SRIRL.
Wildlife carer Lori-Ann Shibish made a mercy dash to Hopetoun to rescue a sick pelican on Tuesday.
“A member of the public noticed it hadn’t moved for a couple of days on the foreshore,” she said.
“We made the two-and-a-half hour drive over there, and after about five minutes of building its trust by feeding it some fish, we were able to make the big grab.”
Ms Shibish said Dr Alex Hockton at Swan Vets examined the bird.
“There is no physical damage,” she said.
“It’s a juvenile pelican, not an adult — weighs 4.7 kilos, underweight.
“It does have an extraordinary load of lice which usually happens when they are sick because they don’t preen and the lice just breed up.”
Ms Shibish said they were now caring for the bird at Esperance Wildlife Hospital.
“We are very grateful to David Gray at South East Seafoods and the guys at Bandy Creek fish shop for donating some fish,” she said.
“If anybody would like to help out that has local fish in their freezer they are thinking of chucking out they can contact Esperance Wildlife Hospital because we would love to have donations of fish for this pelican.”
The number to call is 0452 561 313.
