A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Pelecanus occidentalis
A brown pelican born at SOS. He did not make it due to a leg deformity
Sometimes the deformity is too severe and will result in the animal being incapable to survive at all. This little guy, who I named "Loki", had a major crippled leg deformity that prohibited him from being capable of even standing. His mother, like almost all bird mothers, knew something was wrong with her baby and did what any bird mother would do. It was her job to kill him. She pecked at him until he had bleeding holes in his body. He was going to die a slow and very painful death. Putting him down, although faster and less painful, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Sorry, but this is the truth about our animal world.
How does a leg issue lead to death, you would think it will eat and grow but have to stay in captivity if the leg is deformed.
Spotted on Sep 4, 2013
Submitted on Sep 5, 2013
+2
