This was published 8 years ago
Curlew shot by arrow in Whitsundays likely an 'accident'
By Jorge Branco
A native bird is lucky to be alive after rescuers found it with an arrow sticking through its body for two days after it was shot.
But police believe the injury is the result of a freak accident rather than another sickening attack on wildlife.
The bush stone-curlew was thought to have been walking around the Airlie Beach area since Friday before it was rescued near the Whitsunday Airport on Sunday.
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays volunteer Dianne Jessop and her husband, Col Foster, found the bird with the arrow sticking through its wing and chest after a call from a local cafe worker.
A bush stone-curlew is recovering well after being shot with an arrow.Credit: Linden Baker
"It was a bit of a confronting sight but it was still running," she said.
A confronting photo of the injured bush stone-curlew provoked outrage on social media but police have finalised an investigation into the incident without laying charges.
A police spokesman said the man likely responsible for the injury spoke to police on Monday and they were convinced it was an accident.
"He's come forward to police saying he was going target shooting in the area [on Friday] and it may have hit the bird.
A bush stone-curlew is recovering well after being shot with an arrow.Credit: Linden Baker
"He wasn't targeting the bird. He didn't know about it until he saw his arrow being shared on Facebook.
"We were confident it was an accident. We had evidence he was actually target shooting."
A bush stone-curlew is recovering well after being shot with an arrow.Credit: Linden Baker
The rescuers used a net to catch the bush stone-curlew before taking it to a vet to have the arrow removed.
It was recovering well on Monday after the vet gave a possible return-to-the-wild date of two to three weeks, barring infection or any other mishaps.
Eudlo locals are mourning the loss of John Deer.Credit: Seven Local News
"It's doing quite well considering it was shot with a rather large arrow," Mrs Jessop said.
"Luckily it missed vital parts and the wing is not as badly damaged as we thought it might be initially."
Eudlo locals are mourning the loss of John Deer.Credit: Seven Local News
On the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Eudlo residents were mourning the loss of a lone stag they had affectionately dubbed John Deer until it was killed on Tuesday.
Feral deer are classed as pest animals and can be legally shot on private property but residents told Seven Local News the animal wasn't bothering anyone and described it as a "senseless killing".
The property owner told the station he hired a shooter to kill the "disease-carrying pest" after it damaged trees and harassed livestock.