Homo Horrendous Hugh Chittenden An Appeal to fishermen to act more responsibly. The following set of photos graphically illustrates some of the worst traits in humans, and I for one hang my head in shame at our irresponsibility, and the knockon effects to wildlife that we profess to care for. How have we become insensitive to our surroundings? In this case, the blame for discarded fishing line lies squarely at the feet of fishermen.
at the water's edge, let alone bunches of discarded fishing line. Sadly however, and judging by the amount of fishing line that one sees lying around on the margins of dams and along beaches, the majority of fishermen seem to have no concern for the way they litter! All the photos below show fishing line injuries to three separate Woolly-necked Storks. Stork Nos 1 & 2 photographed at Albert Falls Dam near Pietermaritzburg (March, 2019), and Stork No 3, photographed at Mtunzini, June, 2014.
Not all fishermen behave irresponsibly of course, I have friends who are keen fishermen & I know they act very responsibly and would never discard a single matchstick
Stork No 1, with the right foot showing stump-end & loss of toes from a previous (healed) fishing line injury. Left foot now undergoing similar constriction and potential further loss of toes.
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