California Brown Pelican Recovers from Severe Pouch Injury in San Pedro

The pelican, nicknamed 'Blue,' underwent surgery to repair a pouch slashed in a suspected act of human cruelty.

An adult female California brown pelican, nicknamed 'Blue,' was found with its pouch slashed from jaw to tip, requiring over 400 stitches.
The injury, believed to be inflicted by a human with a sharp object, prompted immediate surgery at the International Bird Rescue in San Pedro.
Blue's recovery involves a second surgery and several weeks of care, highlighting a disturbing trend of similar injuries among pelicans.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the incident, recalling a similar case from 2014 involving another pelican named 'Pink.'
Public support and donations are crucial for the International Bird Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of injured waterbirds.