• An injured pelican used the N7 as a rest stop.
• The bird caused traffic delays before officials and conservationists 'caught' it.
• The pelican was safely transported to the nearest SANPARK.
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The N7 highway was almost brought to a complete standstill when a pelican caused a flurry of events.
On Tuesday, 30 March 2021, Whatsapp groups and social media went into a frenzy following an incident on the N7. When officers from the Atlantis precinct, a suburb just outside Cape Town, investigated the matter, they found Nature Conservation officials trying to capture a pelican. The bird has caused quite the commotion, but officials managed to capture is safely and take it to the nearest SANPARK for further investigation.
According to reports, the bewildered bird put up quite a fight and was ready to attack anyone who came too close. Thankfully, the experience and expertise of the officials saw to the safe capture of the bird.
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Catching the bird
Speaking to the City of Cape Town's Wayne Dyason, it became apparent that it was by chance that the pelican roamed the N7. The bird suffered an injury to one of its legs and saw the national highway as a fit enough place to settle down and catch its breath. Motorists on both lanes significantly reduced their speed as the bird made its way to one lane then the other.
The conservationists and law officials tried their best to restrain the bird until they managed to get a rope around its neck and tie its beak with it. Dayson says that it was important not to put the bird into further distress or to hurt it, with the efforts paying off in the end.
The pelican was loaded onto the passenger seat of a vehicle, but was relaxed after probably realizing that the humans are there to help. The bird was transported safely to the nearest SANPARK. Dyason says that once the pelican was brought to a manner of control, it 'cooperated' going forward.
