Feral? Is that you?
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 22 September 2013 21:57
WIRES kills native birds
rw has been alerted to a very distressing incident. Unfortunately it is not the first time this has happened. One would think after all these years and so many similar events, WIRES would have worked it out by now. Incompetent.
Recently, a wildlife rescuer in the southern parts of NSW, reported a disturbing encounter with WIRES.
A local person had called WIRES because a crested pigeon had been attacked by a cat and was hiding injured in bushes. Crested Pigeons are Australian natives and an animal under WIRES responsibility. Every wildlife carer is expected to know this.
When the concerned local called WIRES they were told that the bird was "a feral" and therefore WIRES would not assist.
This person then rang WIRES again the next day to report yet another bird of the same species had suffered the same fate and was injured by a cat. WIRES was similarly unsympathetic.
This concerned person then rang another wildlife carer not associated with WIRES.
When this carer attended they found 4 birds dead and one severely dehydrated. Four native Crested Pigeons. The one surviving bird died during transport back to a care facility.
Feral or not, the WIRES operator did not seem to be aware of this common problem. Five birds died; four could have been saved if only a WIRES person had been sent. Perhaps they could have spoken to the cat's owner and sent a letter to the local council to help prevent it happening again.
WIRES has an obligation, especially considering the cash they beg for with emotional blackmail, to ensure that the phone operators are at least basically trained and follow through to a natural conclusion. Feral or not, it is not a good for a look for a "caring" organisation.
Their records would show one suffering feral bird, rather than five ravaged suffering dying crested pigeons. Disgraceful.
Write the minister
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