THE RSPCA is urging people to clean up their fishing waste to stop thousands of birds and flying foxes from getting trapped in discarded lines and injured by hooks.
Senior animal rescue officer Jo Jordaan said the number of incidents related to fishing waste appeared to be climbing each year.
She said it was an ongoing problem and urged people to be more aware of their surroundings when packing up after fishing.
"A couple of years ago we had a pelican with seven hooks outside and inside its body," she said.
"We'd just urge people to clean up their fishing waste. The discarded lines and hooks are trapping thousands of birds a year and sadly most of these aren't discovered until it's too late.
"It really isn't too much to ask people to simply clean up when they're packing up."
More than 40 animals and birds continue to flood wildlife hospitals each day and that number could rise when koala trauma season begins.
The RSPCA received 378 animal cruelty complaints from the Redlands last year, with 63 of those originating in Capalaba alone.
More than 1500 reports were made in Logan suburbs, with common complaints including insufficient food and water, poor living conditions, animals being tethered and not receiving exercise, abandonment, untreated injuries and animals living in poor conditions.
There were 70 cases in Beaudesert, while the number of complaints across the state totalled 18,692.
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