After a mute swan was found with three fishing hooks lodged in its body, the RSPCA is urging fishermen to properly dispose of all fishing litter.
The adult female swan was rescued by the animal welfare charity in Norwich last Thursday, October 13, and taken to the group's East Winch Wildlife Centre nearby. Two hooks were deeply embedded in the bird's foot and upon further examination another hook was found lodged in its neck.
Though the injured swan is recovering now after an operation, the RSPCA is reminding the public to be careful about how they throw away their rubbish after fishing.
'She's very lucky that someone spotted her injuries and alerted us as she must have been very distressed,' East Winch manager Alison Charles said.
'Luckily, we managed to remove all three hooks while the swan was under anaesthetic and she is now recuperating from her operation. She is on antibiotics and pain relief, and will have to rest until her wounds have fully healed.'
The RSPCA received 3,683 calls last year alone relating to fishing litter - 131 of which came from Norfolk.
To avoid potential animal injuries, fisherman should cut fishing line into pieces before throwing it away at home, use bait boxes and always remove bait from the hook before putting it in a safe place.
'This poor swan shows just how damaging discarded fishing litter can be for wildlife and the dangers it poses for animals and birds,' Ms Charles said.
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