Can you spot the metal fragments left from a gunshot wound? 
 

 
The stunning cockatoo was brought into Perth Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital with a severely fractured wing following a gunshot wound. Found on a private property, the young bird was on the ground and unable to fly. His parents kept vigil in a nearby tree, coming to ground occasionally to dutifully feed him – heart breaking, right?! 
 
The Carnaby’s Cockatoo was in need of urgent medical attention upon arrival at the Zoo –  he had a shattered bone and fragments of metal left behind from the shot gun pellet that remained embedded in him. After extensive TLC, supportive care, orthopaedic repair of the fracture and multiple follow-up procedures to assess the viability of his wing, Perth Zoo’s Acting Senior Veterinarian, Alisa Wallace is hopeful the youngster will survive. But, it will be a long road to recovery! The bird will likely spend up to one year at a specialist rehabilitation facility, building up his strength, muscle mass and having flight lessons to ensure he has all the necessary skills and functions to survive back out in the wild. 
 
Sadly this is not an uncommon story. Perth Zoo treats approximately 300 wild black cockatoos every year – many are hit by vehicles or illegally shot. The aim is to get as many back out to the wild as possible, but sadly, not all of the injured birds are as fortunate as this cockatoo.  
 
Found in the South-west of Western Australia, it is illegal to shoot or poach black cockatoos.