Plight Of The Pelican

Adventurer Ben Cropp documents the relationship between humans and the Pelican. This beautiful bird is a common sight along the coast of Australia, often appearing on beaches at regular times each day to be fed fish by tourists, or waiting for fishing boats to return and feed them unwanted scraps.
In recent times some local councils have made it an offence to feed the Pelicans in an effort to prevent them becoming dependent on humans.
Sadly it’s this acceptance of humans that causes problems for the Pelican with injuries from fishing hooks and line and poisoning by pollutants becoming common in some areas.
Waterways in in-land Australia are also home to the Pelican where they often share the habitat and the food supply with other water birds. Natural predators are also shown to be playing a part in the plight of the Pelican.
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