Cygnet undergoes life-saving treatment after ingesting fishing line

A black swan cygnet was found with nylon fishing line stuck in its stomach and mouth at Rotokawau Virginia Lake. Photo / Supplied

A black swan cygnet has undergone life-saving treatment after getting a nylon fishing line stuck in its throat at Whanganui’s Rotokawau Virginia Lake.

It has prompted a warning from Bird Rescue Whanganui Manawatū about the dangers of discarded fishing equipment on wildlife.

“There wasn’t a hook, which is a bit of a relief, but the nylon did go right into the stomach area,” Bird Rescue lead Dawne Morton said.

The cygnet was brought into Bird Rescue last week before being transferred to Wildbase - the veterinary and wildlife hospital at Massey University - where the nylon was safely removed, and the cygnet was put on a course of antibiotics.

Wildbase at Massey University in Palmerston North specialises in treating injured native wildlife and bird species.

Morton said it planned to release the cygnet back into Virginia Lake following the antibiotics course.

“We don’t want the cygnet hanging around too long because they get used to people and don’t think they’re a swan anymore,” she said.

The Bird Rescue team will monitor the mother swan to make sure she accepts the cygnet back before releasing it.

“We just don’t know if the mother will attack it because she sees it as a strange cygnet,” she said.

Fishing has been banned at Virginia Lake since 2009 due to the dangers it poses towards wildlife.

Penalties for being caught fishing at the lake include an $800 infringement fee.

Whanganui District Council has not received any reports of illegal fishing activity at Virginia Lake but has urged the public to obey the fishing ban.

Morton said the cygnet is the third bird they have treated in the past year for fishing gear entanglement.

“Commercial fishing net kills birds, and lures and triple hooks kill them,” Morton said.

“This bird would have died with the nylon blocking his throat.”

In September, it received a report of a shag entangled in a fishing lure and stuck to a mooring rope along from the Whanganui town bridge.

The three-pronged hook had pierced the shag’s foot, lacerating the webbing in two places and the barbs had punctured three of its toes.

Despite being rescued and treated, the shag later died.

A penguin was rescued from Waipipi Beach in July after becoming entangled in a commercial fishing net.

The netting had left an open wound on one flipper and prevented the bird from finding food properly.

Morton said it was dehydrated, exhausted and underweight upon arrival at Wildbase.

The penguin subsequently died.

Another penguin was brought in this year after a boat propeller had cut off part of its flipper, and it later died in care.

“There’s a lot of work to be done with education,” Morton said.

Morton said people should not take action themselves, such as cutting off fishing nets, and immediately releasing the animals, because they could suffer from untreated infections.

She said the public could help by picking up any fishing lines or other rubbish they come across at the beaches, lakes or other nature spots.

Bottle cap rings pose a particular threat as they can become stuck around parts of a bird.

“If you cut the ring, it’s not a killer anymore,” she said.

Domestic cats also pose a major threat to native and non-native birds.

Bird Rescue started in 1988 to help sick or injured birds in the Whanganui-Manawatu region and often works in collaboration with Wildbase.

It depends on volunteers and help from the public to operate.

“It’s really good the people saw [the cygnet]… if it had ingested the whole lot, it would have certainly died," Morton said.

“If you find an injured bird, give us a ring.”