An injured western gull that was rescued by a local seventh grader was returned to the wild Tuesday, SeaWorld San Diego announced.
The bird was rescued by Dachel Fohne on the campus of Chula Vista’s Feaster Charter School on Feb. 1. The bird was later picked up by SeaWorld San Diego and taken to Oiled Wildlife Care Center for urgent
The animal arrived at SeaWorld with a hook in one of its wings and a ruptured mouth, apparently injured by fishing lines. SeaWorld bird keepers, veterinarians and animal medical staffers examined the gull, and gave it rehydration stabilizing fluids, according to SeaWorld officials.
So far in 2017, SeaWorld has rescued 49 birds and 25 marine mammals. Since 1965, the park has rescued more than 17,000 animals, with marine birds, seals and sea lions comprising the vast majority of those animals.
The park’s Rescue Team also routinely comes to the aid of dolphins, whales and sea turtles. In 2016, SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue Team aided 403 California sea lions, 24 harbor seals, 16 northern elephant seals, three common dolphins, two Guadalupe fur seals and one humpback whale, which the team disentangled.
They also cared for seven sea turtles (the most in a single season) and 534 birds representing 61 species including grebes, pelicans, herons and gulls. The park’s goal is to return rescued, nursed-to- health animals to the wild for a second chance at life.
