ST KILDA PENGUIN BACK IN THE SWIM
May 26, 2009 by BayKeeper
Filed under Advocacy, Wild Things
No doubt about it… there is a fine line between pleasure and pain. Just ask the St Kilda penguin found recently stranded on land with fishing line wound tightly around its leg…. it’s hard to go to work and find a fishy feed if you’re tied to a rock 3 metres above sea level!
Cut to the bone, but now well healed!
Luckily, the tangled up little critter was discovered by Earthcare St Kilda’s Penguin Study Group on one of their fortnightly checks on the colony. The bird was whisked off to Melbourne Zoo for treatment and eventually released back to the water, attended by a flock of TV news cameras and adoring well-wishers.
7 seconds of fame!
The issue of entanglement of wildlife with fishing line isn’t new. But although everyone from A to Z (anglers to zoologists) agree things need to change, the damage is still occurring. But does anyone know of new ways to tackle this problem?
Clear Signage; …informing and pleading.
Ian R Levy
Go back and look at bio-degradable fishing line… it appears expensive but the savings on our wildlife will be worth it.
Sounds like a step forward Alison. I wonder to what extent fishos around the Bay have taken to using this type of line?