Black Swan rescued with fishing lure embedded in its neck

A black swan has reunited with her partner after an emergency surgery to remove a fishing lure embedded in her neck. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Recreational fishing is a beloved pastime in Tasmania, but the activity can have a detrimental effect on our precious wildlife.

WIRES emergency wildlife rescue responder Ned Van Hulst said wildlife entanglement in line and hooks is very common in Tasmania.

Cormorants, species of gulls and swans are some species commonly impacted by discarded fishing line, hooks and lures, he said.

Recently, Mr Van Hulst responded to a call out to a swan in the wetlands at Oatlands who had a lure embedded in its neck.

A black swan rescued with a fishing lure in its neck was released in Oatlands. Picture: WIRES

“She was perfectly healthy with exception to the hook being in the neck,” Mr Van Hulst said.

He visited the bird on the day of the call but found her in an awkward position that was too risky to attempt the rescue.

He went back and successfully rescued her the next day and she was in surgery at Bonorong by midmorning.

By that same afternoon the female swan was released back to the wetlands at Oatlands, with footage showing the heartwarming moment she was reunited with her family including her cygnets.

“It’s a beautiful moment you are fortunate enough to experience because you are doing this sort of thing,” Mr Van Hulst said.

He said most animals that get entangled in discarded fishing equipment were not so lucky as this swan, with infection and necrosis common concerns.

He said proper disposal of any fishing equipment is extremely important.

Snares are unavoidable but if you must cut the fishing line try and recover as much discarded line as possible, Mr Van Hulst said.

For injured or orphaned wildlife, call Bonorong on 0447 264 625 any time of the day or night.

Originally published as Black Swan rescued with fishing lure embedded in its neck