A pelican coated in tar has been rescued after weeks of failed attempts

After weeks of failed attempts rescuers have finally captured a pelican covered in tar from last month's 10,000-litre chemical spill at Trinity Inlet.

Julie Dunn holds the captured pelican on the Cairns Esplanade, ready for rehabilitation.

After weeks of failed attempts rescuers have finally captured a pelican covered in tar from last month's 10,000-litre chemical spill at Trinity Inlet.

First spotted on the Cairns Esplanade just days after the spill, Friday the nickname given by rescuer Julie Dunn had avoided numerous capture efforts from various rescuers.

A FNQ wildlife spokeswoman said after hours of trying to coax the pelican their efforts paid off on Friday morning.

“The bitumen-tarred pelican has been captured by Julie Dunn, in association with FNQ Wildlife Rescue,” she said.

“Volunteers has spent long hours trying to lure and capture the bird so it can be rehabilitated, so there’s been a big sigh of relief that it’s finally been achieved.

“The capture was made difficult because the pelican was still able to fly and swim away, and was very wary of humans.

“Julie managed to trap the pelican, which has now been taken to a local vet for assessment and cleaning, ready for rehabilitation.”

A pelican covered in black bitumen was first spotted on the Cairns Esplanade after a spill from a Portsmith industrial plant last month. Picture: Pete Moore

Ms Dunn told the ABC on Friday morning that the subadult female still had lots of hardened tar on the body but would likely make a full recovery after she was degreased and put into rehabilitation for at least a week.

The bird was the most high-profile victim of a 10,000 litre asphalt-bitumen spill that entered the inlet on September 29.

Department of Environment Tourism Science and Innovation are currently investigating the spill with compliance action being considered.

Originally published as A pelican coated in tar has been rescued after weeks of failed attempts