Dirt causes a lot of damage to animals.
In her volunteer work, animal rescuer Sanna Hagelberg has been able to see the worst effects human waste can have on nature.
Even an experienced animal rescuer was shocked on Saturday by the condition of an animal that needed human help.
The Animal Rescue Ring Facebook group received an announcement Friday of a white-fronted swan fatally tangled in a line. Hans Sumanlinna remained in the area.
The rescue service was also called to the scene, but the frightened and still flightless bird had escaped rescuers.
A day after the rescue service’s unsuccessful rescue attempt, volunteer animal rescuers went to the case. According to Hagelberg, Sanna Hagelberg, who has been a rescuer of wild animals for five years, and Eva-Maria Asplund, another volunteer, found the injured white-cheeked swan where it was seen at the time of the Facebook post.
– We had a ghost with us, and we caught Hans quickly, says Hagelberg.
The fishing line didn’t cut into the skin of the healthy leg. Photo: Eva-Maria Asplund
When they set out on a rescue mission, Hagelberg and Asplund knew only that the swan’s legs had become entangled with fishing line.
– It was quickly discovered that the swan’s second flipper was completely missing. The detached flipper was still attached to the end of the line tangled in the swan’s other leg. Hagelberg says, that sight was quite shocking even for me.
The severed leg was still hanging. Photo: Eva-Maria Asplund
Animal rescue work takes up a lot of time from volunteers, he says, though the work is also rewarding.
According to Hagelberg, Help for the Wild was under fire five years ago. He says that he found a pigeon in Helsinki with a thread entangled in its legs.
– When I found that pigeon, I thought a lot about what I could do with it. It has to be helped somehow. It could not even walk.
Hagelberg says he received help from the Helsinki Animal Protection Association, through which volunteers arrived to help capture the bird.
– I quickly realized that the task of saving wild animals largely rested on the shoulders of the volunteers. That’s how I ended up in this animal rescue job.
Hans was lucky enough to encounter rescuers. Photo: Eva-Maria Asplund
According to him, rescue operations constantly teach new things. Hagelberg says there were about 350 animal rescue missions last year alone.
Many rescue operations involve an animal that has become trapped or injured directly or indirectly due to human activity.
-Unfortunately there have been many cases where a person has intentionally hurt an animal.
Animals hit by cars or entangled in garbage are common cases that require rescue. Apart from birds, for example elephants and squirrels provide a lot of employment.
According to Halberg, the Facebook group Animal Rescue Ring has only a handful of active rescuers, although there are about 40,000 members.
Line cut. Photo: Eva-Maria Asplund
Hagelberg believes that the Suomenlinna white-fronted swan may have spent up to a year entangled in fishing line, as the severed leg stump had healed well.
– Fishing line is annoying because it bites into the skin and cuts the flesh bit by bit. Eventually the foot will become gangrene. Fortunately, this goose’s wound had healed very well.
Fortunately, the fishing line still hadn’t cut into the goose skin on the other leg. Volunteer rescuers were able to cut it out. The swan’s ability to walk was also preserved, despite the detached flipper.
However, the tale of the white-cheeked swan living in a tangle of lines had a happy ending, as according to Hagelberg, so too did the swan’s mate, who immediately went to the free one-winged swan.
Liberation was a wonderful moment. It was a beautiful reunion, even though the operation didn’t last more than two minutes.
The stump had healed well. Photo: Eva-Maria Asplund
Although this white-cheeked goose situation didn’t require a vet visit, the situation is often different.
– Depending on the situation, the animals are taken for treatment, for example, to the Korkesari Wildlife Hospital.
The condition may be so bad that the animal has to be euthanized.
When Hagelberg is asked how people can reduce animal suffering, his view is clear.
– People throw a lot of garbage, such as fishing lines and fishing nets, into nature.
– Even if you mean well and throw pieces of yarn out into nature as nesting material for birds, it actually turns against itself. Animals get trapped in these and suffer a lot of injuries.
Hagelberg also reminds that according to the Animal and Nature Protection Act, efforts must be made to help a sick, injured or otherwise helpless wild animal.
fact
injured wildlife
According to the Animal and Nature Protection Act, efforts must be made to help a sick, injured or otherwise helpless wild animal.
In cases involving animals, call 911 if the animal is causing a disturbance or a danger to people or traffic, if:
The animal needs to be rescued from a place from which it cannot get out on its own and without assistance
This is an acute animal welfare issue, for example a seriously injured animal or ongoing animal cruelty.
You can also contact your local animal welfare association.
Wild animals are also taken care of by zoos, kennels and public bodies.
Source: Sanna Hagelberg, SEY, City of Helsinki
