Last month, a woman was strolling on a beach in Ballito, South Africa, when she noticed a pile of feathers on one of the rocks lining the shore.
At first glance, the woman didn’t think much of it, and she continued her walk. But later, when she passed the rock again on her way back, she realized something was wrong. The large white seabird, a Cape gannet, was slumped over and unmoving.
Wildlife Rescue
The woman quickly alerted the lifeguard on duty, Joshua Leitch. Leitch, who’s also a volunteer with Wildlife Rescue, could immediately tell the bird needed help. He contacted his colleague and fellow rescuer, Lindy Elmes, who raced to the scene.
Elmes examined the bird and found him in bad shape. According to Elmes, Cape gannets are usually powerful, alert and defensive. But this one was much more lethargic.
Wildlife Rescue
“He was resting quietly with his head tucked under his wing, a posture often seen in exhausted seabirds,” Elmes told The Dodo. “He appeared profoundly fatigued and unusually still, which suggested he was beyond normal resting behavior.”
Though the bird’s tiredness was troubling, his calm demeanor made the rescue easy. Leitch and Elmes swiftly secured him and brought him to Ballito Veterinary Clinic.
You can watch the rescue unfold in a video here:
Veterinarians examined the Gape gannet and confirmed he was severely dehydrated. They administered fluids, offered sardines for nourishment and placed the bird in a darkened container to minimize his stress.
The next morning, vets noticed improvement, but not enough for release. They moved the bird to the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), where he’s currently being housed and growing stronger by the day.
Wildlife Rescue
“At this stage, his prognosis is positive,” Elmes said. “With proper rehabilitation, there is every expectation that he will be returned to the ocean where he belongs.”
The rescuer is happy that this bird will soon be back in the wild, thanks to the dedication of so many animal lovers.
“Rescues like this are a reminder of how interconnected coastal communities are with the wildlife around them,” Elmes said. “From the observant beach walker, to the lifeguard, Wildlife Rescue, the veterinary team and the rehabilitation [center] — every person played a role.”
You can keep up with Wildlife Rescue by following them on Facebook.
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