Fowl play? Mystery surrounds rooster marooned in Canning River
RSPCA WA inspectors have rescued a rooster found stranded in the middle of the Canning River, leaving them baffled about how he got there.
Last Wednesday, RSPCA WA received a call from a member of the public who had spotted the bird near the Greenfield Street Footbridge in Ferndale. He had somehow ended up perched on top of protective netting, about two metres above the water.
Inspector Bridie Creedy and Trainee Inspector Teale Audus attended and, after making enquiries with local authorities, discovered the netting had been installed as part of a Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) aquatic revegetation project. DBCA staff joined the rescue effort and carefully waded out to retrieve the rooster following Inspector Creedy’s rescue instructions issued from shore.
Thankfully, the bird, now named River Phoenix, was not entangled and was safely carried back to dry land, despite becoming a bit soggy during the rescue manoeuvre.
Inspector Creedy said it was one of the more unusual rescues she’d attended.
“I’ve rescued animals from all sorts of places, but this is the first time I’ve been called to a rooster stranded in the middle of a river,” she said.
“Roosters can manage short bursts of flight, but how River Phoenix ended up out there is anyone’s guess.
“He’s a beautiful bird and already doing much better. He was quite thin when he arrived, but he’s putting on weight and has settled in really well.”
“We’re very grateful to the DBCA staff who helped bring him to safety.”
River Phoenix was taken to the RSPCA WA in Malaga, where he is continuing to recover. Once cleared by veterinary staff, he will be available for adoption.
While River Phoenix’s journey to the middle of the river remains a mystery, RSPCA WA is seeing more unwanted roosters surrendered or abandoned, often after people buy unsexed chicks that later mature into males.
“Many local governments restrict keeping roosters in suburban areas because of noise, but abandoning them is never the answer,” Inspector Creedy said.
“Domestic roosters aren’t equipped to fend for themselves. They can suffer from starvation, dehydration, disease, injury and predation.
“If you can no longer care for a rooster, please ask for help from a rescue group, animal welfare organisation or your local council rather than leaving the bird to fend for itself.”
Abandoning an animal is an offence under Western Australia’s Animal Welfare Act 2002, with penalties of up to $50,000 and five years’ imprisonment.
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