MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Another seagull, covered in varnish, was rescued from the Mossel Bay harbour and taken to the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (Saprec) for a thorough wash before starting his journey to a full recovery.
This gull is the second one found covered in varnish and rescued from the harbour in just more than a month.
Saprec founder Carol Walton said she received a call last Tuesday, 27 May, from someone at the harbour, saying they had seen a gull, covered in a sticky substance and asking Saprec to fetch it.
Walton said she rushed to the harbour immediately. When she arrived, the caller had managed to capture the seagull safely.
He could not fly because most of his wing feathers were stuck together. Walton brought the gull to Saprec, based in Mossdustria outside Mossel Bay, and started the long and gruelling process of cleaning all the varnish off his wings and body.
Many of the feathers were stuck together. Photo: Carol Walton
Walton said she had to use coconut oil to loosen the feathers and spent a few hours trying to wash as much of the varnish off as possible. After the first wash, the seagull was exhausted, so Walton let him rest for a few days before washing him again.
By Saturday, 31 May, all the varnish had been washed off.
"He is a juvenile gull and recovering very well," said Walton.
"Although all the varnish has been removed and he is flying around, he cannot be rewilded just yet. He still has a long journey to recovery.
The seagull was totally clean by Saturday morning, and recovering well. Photo: Carol Walton
"In washing off all the varnish, the natural oils that help waterproof the body and keep it afloat on water have been stripped away. It takes about five weeks for them to build up again. If we had to set him free now, he would sink and ultimately drown as soon as he tries to make a landing in the ocean," said Walton.
Mossel Bay Advertiser recently reported that a seagull that was rescued more than a month ago from the harbour after he was found covered in varnish. The gull was washed and released after spending five weeks at the centre.
She has urged people again to call Saprec (082 364 3382) as soon as they see a seabird in distress.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
