Meet Cozzi, a fresh water turtle that was hooked by active fisherman – not discarded tackle as some may think!

Luck for Cozzi the hook was able to be removed with a major surgery.

As unlucky as that is – Cozzi was very luckily to be “accidentally” caught by fisherman who actually cared enough to do the right thing and not just cut the line!

Cozzi was taken to the Wildlife Welfare Organisation for assistance who delivered him to AMWRRO for treatment.

Cozzi had the hook removed from his esophagus and has now almost finished his medication. Once finished he will be released back in the River Murray where he was found. Special thanks to those who handed him in to WWO and for WWO for delivering him to AMWRRO for treatment.

James arrives at AMWRRO and is about to be admitted.

Meet James, a young male Australian sea lion rescued from Granite Island (Victor Harbor).

James is fighting a serious infection in his right flipper, he has multiple open wounds scattered over his body, is very underweight and was extremely dehydrated on admission.

Special thanks to Jane a concerned morning walker who found James lying on the Granite Island train tracks and who called AMWRRO for assistance.  AMWRRO contacted Dorothy and Keith C/- the Granite Island Penguin Centre to help keep people away whilst local Department for Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) Officer Seiji Iwao was travelling from another conservation park to also lend a hand.  

AMWRRO and DEWNR Officers in the Victor Harbor region have successfully worked together over the years to rescue, rehabilitate and release many seals that have found themselves in trouble around the Victor Harbor region.

Flippers crossed James makes a full recovery and we’re able to release him in the near future.   

Amelia’s stomach showing two ganged hooks.

Amelia is a young female Australian Pelican who owes her life to the residence and rescuers of the Goolwa region. 

Local residence noticed fishing line wrapped around her wing and contacted Wildlife Welfare Organisation Inc. (WWO) who promptly rescued the bird and removed the external fishing entanglements.  Unfortunately whilst disentangling her they found fishing line descending into her mouth and subsequently her stomach; this was unable to be dislodged.

WWO contacted AMWRRO and the following morning the bird was transported to Torrens Island for treatment.  On further investigation it was confirmed that Amelia had come in contact with active fishing interactions or unattended set lines (both of which are lethal to wildlife) and was subsequently dealt a death sentence.

A Slow Painful Death

Two huge hooks now embedded in her stomach, one perforating her mucosa (stomach lining) and required immediate removal before the hook opened up her stomach completely – infecting her entire gastrointestinal tract and of which leads to an excruciating painful and very slow death.

The procedure lasted approximately 35 minutes and was a great success. Amelia is now on the road to recovery and should be ready for release within the next few weeks.

Special thanks to those Goolwa residences for keeping an eye on their local wildlife and for raising the alarm when finding a problem; and to WWO for their prompt response and abilities to conduct such a great rescue.

For information about responsible fishing tips please click here.