Our Wildlife Heroes Call for Safe Waterways  

Our Wildlife Heroes are urging you to help save precious lives over the spring and summer seasons.     

What is Wildlife Trauma Season?

As the weather warms up, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is overwhelmed with waterbirds and turtles affected by hook & plastic injuries.  

During these warmer months, patient admissions rise as more people spend time outside fishing, boating and sharing the environment with our wildlife.   

Patients admitted to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital have usually either ingested hooks and plastics or have become entangled in fishing line. 

Rehab for these waterbirds and turtles can take months and is a very painful experience.   

If left untreated, injuries from fishing line and hooks are a death trap for wildlife.  

The cost of removing a hook from a pelican’s stomach is $3000.  

Patients suffer severe trauma from hooks and plastic so it’s important to keep an eye on our precious wildlife and reduce human impact. 

6 ways You Can Help Save Water Wildlife:

• Dispose of your rubbish correctly 

• Don’t feed birds while fishing as it encourages them to hang around and increases their chances of being caught in lines or swallowing hooks 

• Don’t cast your line near birds 

• Safely pick up discarded fishing hooks and lines when you see them 

• If wildlife is hooked or entangled, don’t cut the line 

• If you see an animal with a fishing hook or line injury, immediately seek help by calling Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on (07) 5534 0813 or your local wildlife organisation 

It’s important to share these messages because many patient cases are easily preventable.  This will reduce suffering and take pressure off our vet team who constantly deal with these trauma cases.   

Save precious waterbirds and turtles by donating today.