Community Corner

Injured Stowaway Pelican Makes Port Call in Tampa on Cruise Ship

From Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas, an injured stowaway pelican was taken to Hillsborough County Animal Services in the Greater Brandon area, then to BluePearl's veterinary hospital. Next is a visit to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.

 

An officer from Hillsborough County Animal Serivces in Greater Brandon transported for treatment an injured stowaway pelican on board a cruise ship from Maryland, during a port call in Tampa, according to a report from BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

The officer transported the pelican to the BluePearl, 24-hour, Tampa-based specialty and emergency veterinarian hospital after Royal Caribbean International staff members brought the injured bird to Hillsborough County Animal Services on Dec. 27, at about 10 a.m.

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The day before, the pelican reportedly landed on deck No. 12, on the port side of Jewel of the Seas, shortly after 5:30 p.m. The ship had been returning to its seasonal homeport in Tampa after calling at Cozumel, Mexico, on Christmas Day.

The only cruise ship to arrive at the Port of Tampa on Dec. 26 ws Jewel of the Seas, according to the U.S Court Guard.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"According to the Hillsborough County Animals Services officer [who] brought the injured pelican to BluePearl's Tampa location, the pelican injured itself by flying into part of the ship's superstructure after it had landed on the ship," the release notes.

Doctors specializing in avian and exotics medicine have been treating the bird for dehydration. They determined as well that the bird suffered a minor wing injury necessitating rehabilitation.

The bird was scheduled to be transported to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary on Dec. 28 to receive that rehabilitation. The sanctuary is in Indian Shores.

The pelican was first banded in Holland Island, Md., on Sept. 7, according to the report, which attirbutes the note to the U.S. Geological Survery Bird Banding Laboratory.

The BluePearl avian and exotic medicine team sees birds, reptiles and wildlife from Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo and Nature's Classrom.

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About BluePearl Veterinary Partners

  • Formed in 2008, BluePearl Veterinary Partners is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., and employs more than 1,200 people, including approximately 250 veterinarians.
  • BluePearl hospitals are referral-only and don’t provide primary care.
  • Most BluePearl hospitals offer 24-hour emergency care services.
  • BluePearl is one of the world’s principal providers of approved veterinary residency and internship educational programs.
  • BluePearl also participates in and conducts clinical trials to study the effectiveness of new drugs and treatments, which give clients access to cutting-edge medicine not yet commercially available and improves the quality of care delivered to our patients.

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