ANIMAL NEWS

The last of the Christmas decorations have been taken down from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital with the release of a juvenile magpie found with a nail lodged through its skull.

The young bird, named Tinsel, received a warm greeting from residents in the Banksia Beach street where it was found injured three weeks ago with an 8cm nail penetrating the sinus and upper beak.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital senior veterinarian Dr Amber Gillett said she was happy to see Tinsel beat the odds and recover from such a horrific attack. "From day one Tinsel proved to be a fighter and progressed towards recovery in leaps and bounds. Since being relocated to a local wildlife carer last week, Tinsel's wounds near the eye and beak have fully healed," Dr Amber said.

"I hope the person responsible has at least enough of a conscience to never do something this cruel again." An adult magpie believed to be one of Tinsel's parents was seen feeding the juvenile not long after the release.

"Magpies are naturally territorial and there is always a risk of the family group rejecting an individual that has been absent for a period of time, so it's wonderful to see that Tinsel has been accepted by the family so willingly," Dr Amber said.

The incident was reported to the appropriate authorities.

To find out more about the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and how you can donate to patients like Tinsel, please visit www.wildlifewarriors.org.au.