SENSITIVE IMAGES: Midrand SPCA team up with a community member to monitor a tangled bird

Following the article Your pleasure, their pain, [Week ending March 4] highlighting the danger of fishing lines and hooks to wildlife, Midrand SPCA discovered another entangled bird at the Midstream Estate dam.

The SPCA received a frantic call from a member of the public who had spotted an ibis whose legs were entangled in a fishing line.

SPCA inspectors Jerry Seemise and Pam Pretorius made their way to the location and discovered that the bird was still able to fly so a trap was set. The woman who had called the SPCA offered to monitor the trap and let the SPCA know as soon as it was caught.

The woman monitored the trap for days, removing healthy birds that had become trapped, hoping that the entangled ibis would soon make its way into the trap.

One afternoon, the SPCA received a call after hours from the woman to say the bird was finally in the trap. Seemise was off duty but he insisted on accompanying inspector Theo Mokgatle as he had become concerned for the bird.

As they drove out to the area, the two inspectors remained hopeful that they could get medical treatment for this bird immediately, but upon arrival, their hearts sank.

The bird was not so lucky and had died after enduring terrible suffering. “Please do not allow our innocent animals to continue to suffer,” said the SPCA in a statement.

“These animals suffer because of those who do not care to consider their actions that have dire consequences. Sadly, there will be many more innocent animals that will suffer in this manner if there is no change or consideration given.”

The SPCA thanked its inspectors for their swift action and the kind woman who monitored the trap. Currently, the SPCA is working with another resident in the same area to try and trap two other birds that desperately need help.

Related Article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/301408/midrand-spca-help-rescue-ducks/