A fishing line carelessly left in nature can have catastrophic consequences for wildlife. Here is a real-life example.

Our volunteer was alerted about a young swan showing obvious problems with one of its legs. Our colleague, Lőrinc Bărbos, entered the waters of the Crișul Repede River to rescue the bird in urgent need of help.

Shortly afterwards, the police arrived, having been notified out of concern that we might be poachers. Once we explained the situation, we took the cygnet to the Vet Clinic in Oradea, where it was freed from the fishing line tangled around its leg.

Unfortunately, the news is not good! The injury, caused by someone’s carelessness, is deep, and although it is receiving treatment, the young swan still cannot use its leg. This is the second time the family it belongs to has been affected by items left behind by fishermen. In June, we told you about another cygnet from the same family that was miraculously saved after being injured by a fishing hook.

Such injuries could easily be avoided if we were more careful not to leave hooks and fishing lines along the banks of rivers and lakes.