An injured pelican that landed on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas is being treated at BluePearl Veterinary Partners specialty and emergency hospital in Tampa on Thursday.
The pelican injured itself when it flew into the Jewel of the Seas' superstructure and subsequently landed on the ship. The bird was originally from Holland Island, Maryland and was tagged by the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory back on September 7th.
Doctors from BluePearl Veterinary Partners avian and exotics medicine team are treating the bird for dehydration and after a physical examination determined the bird has a minor wing injury that will require rehabilitation.
According to Royal Caribbean, the pelican landed on deck 12 of the port-side of Jewel of the Seas shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The ship was returning to its seasonal homeport of Tampa after calling at Cozumel, Mexico, on Tuesday. Royal Caribbean International staff transferred the injured bird to Hillsborough County Animal Services during a port call in Tampa, Thursday at approximately 10 a.m.
The pelican is scheduled to be transferred to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary Friday where the bird will receive rehabilitation treatment.
