A kelp gull is being treated at the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Yellowwood park after it was found lying next to its dead parent on Winklespruit Beach on Wednesday, 16 September. “At just under a year old, the gull is very lethargic and seems almost paralysed. Our nurses suspect it might be ill with botulism, a disease where the patient is filled with toxins that have paralytic effects – it also occurs in humans but it is rare,” said CROW communications officer, Alex Kogl.
“The toxin clostridium botulinum can be found in certain foods and it is suspected this gull might have gotten it after feeding from a dump site or eating rotten human food. Even though gulls are scavengers and have strong stomachs, younger gulls are still more susceptible and being fed by humans only makes them more vulnerable.” Kogl said treatment for botulism is the same as for poisonings – the patient is immediately given a active charcoal solution through a tube and then given successive dosages afterwards. Charcoal binds up harmful toxins in the body and flushes it out of the system.
“Unfortunately, it also makes it impossible to absorb food and medicine through the stomach, so the gull will only be fed intravenously until his charcoal treatment is over. We’re hoping he makes an improvement soon and he will fare better than his parent.”
READ ALSO: Snare Aware continues its good work in Amanzimtoti CROW is an NGO based in Yellowwood Park that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, orphaned or displaced wild animals. To support the good work it does, use the following bank details to make a donation: CROW, FNB, account number: 50770230859, branch Code: 222126, Swift/Bic code: FIRNZAJJ.
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