The International Bird Rescue is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for slashing the pouch of a pelican found in Long Beach last week.

Long Beach Animal Care Services discovered the injured pelican on April 16 in the 5400 block of Ocean Blvd. in Belmont Shore. Since pelicans scoop up food with their pouches, the clean slit prevented the bird from feeding itself, said Jay Holcomb, director of the International Bird Rescue in San Pedro. It was very thin when rescued and had probably not eaten in a few weeks.

The IBR stapled the slit so the bird could feed and as soon as it is strong enough, it will undergo surgery to repair the injury. In addition, the nonprofit is offering a $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the mutilation.

Though California brown pelicans were removed from the engangered species list, hurting a migratory bird is still a crime, one that comes with a possible felony charge.

“Pelicans are of no threat to anyone, yet they continue to be mutilated and even killed by people who see them as competition for fish,” Holcomb said in a statement. “The truth is a pelican’s diet is mostly anchovies and sardines–fish that are used as bait by people who fish for sport.”

Anyone with information on who may have harmed the pelican was asked to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (310) 328-1516.

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