Subscriber Comments for
Cruelty to a Pelican

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 297989	2012-07-16 09:23 AM
Awful, knowing that someone purposefully did this, makes me sick.
COMMENT 297993	2012-07-16 09:33 AM
989: Agreed. I actually feel physically ill.
COMMENT 298000	2012-07-16 09:52 AM
He may have got caught on a hook or something. Either way, it is so sad to see those wounds! :(
COMMENT 298003P	2012-07-16 09:56 AM
Thank you, edhat, for publishing my pictures. Those of us who rescue seabirds and who come across such cruelty are sickened by it, haunted by it for days and days as I am sure that Cheryl, who found this sad bird, was and is. Helping with the seabirds for now more than 10 years, I know there is a sentient creature there, each one distinct from another, and it is beyond understanding how anyone could do this (and worse) to another creature, one peaceful and harmless. I hope that seeing this will encourage people to keep their eyes peeled for instances of cruelty and know that it is against the law (as well as, certainly, the moral laws!) and know also there is a way of reporting. It's a minority, definitely, but there are such people out there.... (And, of course, if you do see an injured seabird, please call the SBWCN, 681-1080.)
COMMENT 298003P	2012-07-16 09:58 AM
No, 298000, not symmetrical clean tears like that on both sides of the pouch, the injuries were not caused by a hook, which, indeed rips the flesh, but not so cleanly as that.
COMMENT 298027	2012-07-16 10:57 AM
Most people are nice and would never hurt an animal like that. But there are enough of us that for whatever sick and twisted reasons, animals will be hurt and killed. The good people can only step in and help whenever they can and whenever they see something like this being done. I stopped a teenage boy from throwing rocks at ducks once and after I started looking for a ranger he took off in his car. I don't know if that stopped him for good, but at least for that afternoon those ducks could look for food in peace.
COMMENT 298029P	2012-07-16 10:59 AM
For those who say or think, why the fuss, "it is just an animal", please remember that someone who would do this to an animal would also do it to a human. Sad to see. Hope the SBWCN can help this one.
COMMENT 298041	2012-07-16 11:29 AM
Seriously though, who the hell is doing this to the pelicans?! Sick people.... Find them already!
COMMENT 298082	2012-07-16 12:50 PM
Sad and disturbing. I hope it's ok. Even if the pouch can't be repaired, will it be able to survive? I love watching the pelicans dive bomb. Here they are quite common, but until I moved to SB, I'd never seen one in the wild, and they still amaze me. Also, it's very true about many animals being sentient beings. Most birds have very distinct personalities, even the "less desirable" ones like seagulls, pigeons and crows.
COMMENT 298003P	2012-07-16 01:57 PM
082: Thanks for your concern! They're wonderful divers, although it takes quite a long time for them to learn how to catch fish, at least until they're the age of this one: the coordination of eye-fish movement-diving angle has to be just right. They dive often from 30 or 40' up. This one probably would not survive in the wild as is: the water (and hard-caught fish) would drain right of those gaps and he would starve. He can feed in captivity but that's not much of a life for a wild creature. Hopefully, a vet will sew the pouch and the stitches would hold, but that's expensive ... and the SBWCN is very stressed now, including for money — caring for pelicans is expensive, plus there are all the others.
COMMENT 298115	2012-07-16 02:17 PM
I found a pelican with the same clean tears on both sides of its pouch. I was told that it was caused by electrocution and that because it was so clean, they could sew him up. They did and he was later released near Long Beach. I hope that is the cause of this bird's wounds and not human cruelty.
COMMENT 298000	2012-07-16 02:58 PM
115 I hope so too! :) Pelicans are awesome, I love watching them fly in formation and we do seem to have an abundance of these lovely birds lately. Gorgeous creatures, it is so sad that some people enjoy harming them.
ZEUSTHEGOOSE	2012-07-16 03:53 PM
sad, why people feel motivated to harm other creatures out of anything other than the necessity of survival is beyond me. really sick and sad.
COMMENT 298254	2012-07-16 08:56 PM
And there is cruelty toward creatures great and small done unconsciously by each of us...every car trip we take, each bite of Big Ag food we buy, all our "stuff" we consume as oil addicts: we so alter their universe through climate disruption that they die out before they have time to adapt. See your next newsclip about wildfires, droughts, floods, windstorms: what dislocates us kills them. It is becoming one lonely planet for our reckless species. Dear reader, please make changes in your life--and teach your children to survive with "less", as well--to save the bounty and luxury of a world full of fellow living beings, clean air and water and forage aplenty.
COMMENT 298320	2012-07-17 08:32 AM
Why does everyone automatically assume that this awful injury was caused by a human with malicious intent? Why is it that when it comes to animals, so many people are willing to immediately suspend their critical thinking? Come on, folks... If it was purposefully caused by a person, then the person should be punished (either in this lifetime or the next), definitely - but there is no evidence either way. I sure hope you people who rush to judgement never sit on a jury involving a case for me or anyone I care about!
GOBBLEDYGOOK	2012-07-17 09:45 AM
Excuse me 320 but there is evidence. The nature of the wounds is evidence, as has been mentioned above. The nature of wounds is used as evidence all the time in courts of law. Perhaps it wasn't explained well enough, but I will add that, I used to be a regular volunteer at the SBWCN seabird pond. We saw many pelicans with intentionally slit pouches. Some people have been caught doing it. I personally rescued a juvenile pelican found lying on the beach, dehydrated, gasping, unable to fly: its wings had been deliberately broken at both "elbow" joints, leaving bloody bone poking through skin. Two perfectly symmetrical breaks, easy to do with thin bird bones. It had to be euthanized. Pelicans are amazing birds, very intelligent, with distinct personalities, very playful and interactive with humans. I encourage anyone who wants a very cool animal experience to try a volunteer shift at the seabird pond--must not be squeamish about fish or poo.

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