2023-10-21 09:27:34
PFOTENHILFE surgeon might not remove ingrown lead weights due to danger to life / Criticism of fishing with lead
Lochen/Alkoven/Henndorf (OTS) – A swan has been observed at Lake Wallersee for several years and has been repeatedly reported to the PFOTENHILFE animal shelter as having a round swelling on its neck. At first it was the size of a table tennis ball for years, but this spring it was bigger than a tennis ball. The swan was recently captured. The surgeon Daniel Eschlböck, who has already carried out numerous difficult operations for PFOTENHILFE, x-rayed him, thought he saw fish hooks in the goiter and wanted to remove them endoscopically.
However, the endoscope camera showed that these were swallowed fishing lead weights that were already completely surrounded by tissue. After consulting a bird expert, the weights were not removed because the risk would have been too great and the swan was not significantly affected by the swelling.
He was therefore released yesterday by PFOTENHILFE employees in Henndorf am Wallersee so that he might be reunited with his family and flew away immediately.
Lead is poisonous and should have been banned long ago
Lead in the body leads to gradual poisoning, which is why there have been discussions regarding banning lead for many years. PFOTENHILFE has also been calling for a ban for a long time. Just like with hunting, because birds of prey eat prey contaminated with lead shot, but water and soil are also poisoned. Another problem that PFOTENHILFE continually struggles with is fish hooks that are swallowed by waterfowl or stuck in their beaks or feet, which cause painful wounds, which can weaken or even kill them.
Photos and videos below (Credit: PAWS HELP)
Questions & Contact:
Animal protection organization PFOTENHILFE
Jürgen Stadler
+43|664|848 55 50
juergen.stadler@pfotenhilfe.at
www.pfotenhilfe.at
1697880514
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