06/12/2018
The
severe danger that balloons pose to wildlife has once again
been highlighted following the death of a European
Herring Gull in Derbyshire.
After a
member of the public spotted the struggling and distressed bird hanging from a
telephone wire on Thornbrook Road in Chapel-en-le-Frith, the RSPCA were swiftly
on the scene. However, despite an officer managing to free the gull, which was
thought to have been hanging there for several hours, it sustained very
serious injuries and had to be put down.
Adam Grogan, Head of Wildlife at the RSPCA, said: "It's very sad to see
that this poor bird suffered like this because of a single balloon and,
although balloons released into the sky make an impressive sight, this case
really highlights why they are a problem.
"Deflated
or fragments of balloons can be eaten by accident or mistaken for food.
Ingesting balloons can cause a slow death to wild birds and mammals as well as
farm animals, horses and marine life, by blocking the digestive or respiratory
tracts, and the attached strings can strangle or cause animals to get tangled,
as happened in this case."
Lee
Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, added: "Our vets tried everything
they could for the gull but sadly its injuries were too severe. Frustratingly,
as with all cases we see involving litter, this could have easily been
avoided."
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