Pelican poisoned by botulism on mend at Gold Coast sanctuary

WOMEN queue up across the Gold Coast for Botox injections to have their faces looking flawless but this droopy bird is one chick who didn’t bounce back quite the way she wanted.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior vet Michael Pyne with the pelican being treated for Botox poisoning. Photo: Steve Holland

WOMEN queue up across the Gold Coast for Botox injections to have their faces looking flawless but this droopy bird is one chick who didn’t bounce back quite the way she wanted.

The unfortunate pelican is on the mend at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary after suffering from a case of Botox poisoning caused by the botulinum toxin.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior vet Michael Pyne with the pelican being treated for Botox poisoning. Photo: Steve Holland

While Botox may be relatively harmless when injected into human lips and foreheads across the Glitter Strip, it can have debilitating effects on our feathered friends.

Seabirds can contract botulism, caused by bacteria stirred up in waterways during the warmer months, according to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior vet, Michael Pyne.

“He’s suffering from the natural form of the toxin — it’s what’s produced from botulism,” Dr Pyne said.

The recovering pelican has regained her appetite!

“It’s like a relaxant which it why it evens out wrinkles when injected into people.

“But birds are supersensitive to it.

“Basically they just get really weak.

“If it gets bad enough they can barely lift their heads in a kind of paralysis.”

The naturally occurring bacteria responsible for the pelican’s poisoning is found in the silt of local waterways which make ducks, pelicans and cormorants the most common to contract it.

“We don’t really get cockatoos with this condition,” Dr Pyne said.

“There’s no harm to humans.”

Gold Coast cosmetic nurse injector Jade Larosa said Botox used for therapeutic and cosmetic procedures was incredibly potent and the pelican would be feeling the effects for quite some time.

The pelican is on the mend.

“What that pelican can expect is one of the most potent neuron toxins in the world and with this toxin you can’t reverse it ... it’s not like Botox where you have to wait for it to work off,” she said.

“One gram of the toxin is enough to feed Australia’s Botox habit for 10 years.

“It’s a bit of a miracle pelican if it makes it through.”

Dr Pyne said if a bird appeared to be weak, lethargic and struggled to move, it was probably best to call the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital or an animal ambulance.

Botox poisoning is just the start of worries for Gold Coast pelicans who are regularly rescued by Rowley Goonan of Wild Bird Rescues.

Just two weeks ago, three pelicans were caught with hook and line injuries at Labrador, with another two hooked birds yet to be caught.