 |
|
"Slash" will be released September
23, 2004. (IBRRC photo)
|
San Pedro, CA
A
young female California brown pelican,
who endured three surgeries and
hundreds of stitches to repair her
pouch, will finally fly free on
Thursday, September 23, 2004. (Detailed
release info).
Found in the Redondo
Beach area, her pouch slit from
ear to ear, “Slash”
spent two months in rehabilitation
at International Bird Rescue Research
Center (IBRRC) in San Pedro. IBRRC
has cared for 154 of the endangered
birds this year, most starving juveniles
who couldn't find food, but also
many with fishing/line hook injures,
and some victims of abuse by humans.
“Slash is proof
that pelicans continue to be mutilated
and even killed by people who see
them as competition for fish,”
said IBRRC Executive Director, Jay
Holcomb. “The truth is a pelicans
diet is mostly anchovies and sardines,
fish that are used as bait by people
who fish for sport.”
“Slash”
was gifted to USFWS special agent
Bruce Toloski and his wife Lisa
as part of IBRRC’s Adopt
a Pelican program. (Toloski
headed the investigation of pelican
mutilations that occurred in December
2002. 14 pelicans were found with
their right wings broken and or/shot.
He was close to apprehending the
killer when he was hit by a drunk
driver while helping a stranded
motorist. He spent months in a coma
and then a year of rehabilitation.
On June 25, 2004, Bruce was presented
with the 2003 Federal Law Enforcement
Officers Associations Award for
Heroism. Bruce and Lisa are expecting
twins in December of 2004).
IBRRC is asking for
the public’s help, either
by reporting pelican abuse to federal
authorities, or by adopting a pelican.
Information is available at IBRRC.org
or by calling Karen Benzel at 831-622-7588.
The number for USFWS law enforcement
division is (310) 328-1516.
Anyone wishing to make
a donation to help all pelicans
that come into the rescue center
should send their donation to IBRRC,
Pelican Fund, P.O. Box 2816, San
Pedro, CA 90731.
IBRRC is located at
the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care
and Education Center in Fort Mac
Arthur, 3601 South Gaffey, San Pedro.
Phone (310) 514-2573 or 2574. The
next volunteer orientation will
be held October 9, from 10AM –
Noon. Call the center to sign up
or sign-up
online.
See: Pelican
project
IBRRC is a proud member
of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network
(OWCN) a legislatively mandated
program within The California Fish
and Game, Office of Spill Prevention
and Response (OSPR) which strives
to ensure that wildlife exposed
to petroleum products in the environment
receive the best achievable treatment
by providing access to permanent
wildlife rehabilitation facilities
and trained personnel for oil spill
response within California.
Return
to list of press releases
Media contact:
Karen Benzel, International
Bird Rescue Research Center, karen@ibrrc.org
Office: (831) 622-7588 |
