By Abbey Cannan
A Noosa wildlife rescuer is calling for people to take more care after an ‘ongoing failure to protect our wildlife’.
Peregian Beach wildlife advocate Goetz von Schweinfurth has spent years rescuing local wildlife, particularly seabirds, and delivering them to wildlife hospitals and carers for rehabilitation.
Goetz said there had been an influx of wildlife injuries and deaths in the area from bush turkeys being killed by dogs and people, seabirds being injured by jet skiers and fishing hooks, and freckled ducks being run over by reckless drivers.
Goetz said one of the worst areas for wildlife injuries was Noosa Woods.
“It’s turning into a killing field as every day people go to the dog beach, let their dogs off the leash, and they go directly after the bush turkeys who can’t get away,” he said.
“There have also been serious ongoing injuries from fishing lines and hooks to seabirds. The local fishermen are great, and they are also fed up and sick of these careless idiots causing deadly injuries to seabirds.
“One of the worst injuries recently was to a beautiful seagull, which had such a large hook, it had broken its hip and was bleeding badly.
“People do not even report most cases as they don’t want to be caught, or are embarrassed and just don’t care.”
Goetz said a girl reported to him another horrible incident that happened three weeks ago in Noosa Woods on the oval.
“Three baby bush turkeys were caught by eight young boys who then cut their heads off and laid them back on the ground off the footpath,” Goetz said.
“It was reported to me as I go through the Noosa Woods every second day, through to the mangroves, and check on every turkey mound and all the wildlife. A young girl saw the incident and drew me a map of exactly where the bodies were dumped.”
He said there was another incident where two freckled ducks were killed by a reckless driver.
“We believe it was on purpose, as the two ducks are a pair that cross the road at the bottom of Safari Street, Noosa Heads from their safe retreat in the National Park. Again, the driver did not care and was witnessed by a family walking on the footpath.
“It’s very critical that we care and look after our wildlife, as Noosa is a magnet for tourists, who do not know, or do not care about wildlife.
“We need more awareness and signs, as there are no signs anywhere along the river telling people to be careful and protect our wildlife.
“We have so many committees and river authorities, and no one works together. If we don’t work together, all is going to disappear, as serious pollution and the killing of innocent wildlife continues.”
If people see a pelican, seabird, other wildlife injured or ill they can contact Goetz Schweinfurth on 0466 307 536 or phone 1300ANIMAL.
