Townsville carer calls for fish donations to feed rescued pelican
A Townsville wildlife carer has cast a line out calling for fish donations to feed a hungry rescued pelican.
Townsville
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A Townsville wildlife carer has cast a line out calling for fish donations to feed a hungry rescue pelican.
NQ Wildlife carer Helen Bell took the juvenile pelican into care after it was found on the side of the road at Oak Valley, unable to fly.
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Wulguru vets gave the pelican, affectionately named Miss Peggy, a check and found her in good health but deemed her too young to be released back into the wild.
Ms Bell said Ms Peggy was about three months old and quickly growing.
“She weighed 4.6kg when she was handed to me,” she said. “She eats a kilo (of fish) a day.”
Faced with the costly task of feeding the growing pelican Ms Bell has asked for mullet or pilchards, which cost about $10 a kilogram, to be donated.
Ms Bell sought help from a care group at the Gold Coast, who advised her to keep Ms Peggy until at least September.
“She’s not flying or anything, she’s just doing little jumps, she’s just too young for it at the moment,” she said.
“We have got a couple of options (for Ms Peggy’s release), we are trying to find where they are breeding around Townsville.”
>>Anyone who can help with Ms Peggy’s food needs can phone Ms Bell on
0413 696 037
Originally published as Townsville carer calls for fish donations to feed rescued pelican