Featured Image Credit: Seaworld
By Lindsay Edgar
No matter how large or how small, when animals need help in a crisis – people act. On February 1st, a seventh grade student named Dachel Fohne noticed something out of the ordinary on the Feaster Charter School’s campus. A western seagull with a fish hook through its wing needed help.
Although western gulls are common in the San Diego area, the one that she saw that day was different, and she decided to take action.
After moving the seagull to a secure location, she immediately called Sea World’s rescue team who then transported the bird to the Oiled Wildlife Care Center. The medical team was able to treat the gull’s injured wing and ruptured mouth. Two weeks later, Dachel was invited back to the center to help release the bird that she rescued.
This sea bird was lucky that Dachel was there to help. Many of them do not survive entanglements with fishing lines and tackle.
This story of a successful rehabilitation is not uncommon when Sea World is involved. Their track record for the turnaround of injured wildlife deserves recognition.
Since 1965, the park’s caring rescue team has given aid to approximately 17,000 animals; sea lions, marine birds, and seals are more frequent. In 2016 alone, SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue Team aided 403 California sea lions, 24 harbor seals, 16 northern elephant seals, three common dolphins, two Guadalupe fur seals and one humpback whale. Their dedication to compassion has given countless animals a second chance.