Speedy recovery for rehabilitated Little Penguin
Five months has made the world of difference for one young kororā (little penguin) who is now full of life and on the way to being released into the wild.
The young female penguin was found at Ocean Beach in August, with a fractured and swollen flipper, and suffering severe weight loss and dehydration.
She was brought to the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier, and later transported to Wildbase Hospital at Massey University in Palmerston North.
Wildbase works with captive institutions all over New Zealand, including the National Aquarium of New Zealand. The team at Wildbase operated on the penguin’s injured flipper, which took four weeks to heal. She was then able to start swimming and was transferred to an outdoor aviary and pool at Wildbase’s rehabilitation centre.
The surgery required feathers to be plucked from the penguin’s shoulder, leaving a large featherless area meaning that before release, she needed to complete her annual moult to replace the feathers as well as pass fitness tests. Having done both, she was ready to go back to the wild.
Wildbase Hospital and Recovery Supervisor Pauline Nijman said the National Aquarium’s native residents often need their specialised skills and knowledge.
"We are very proud to support the Aquarium’s work in advocating for the plights of our native treasures. We hope this penguin will thrive in the wild after getting off to a shaky start.”
National Aquarium staff released the penguin to the Napier Port sanctuary on Thursday. The penguin was placed into a nesting box on land to give it a quiet safe space to get used to, giving it the opportunity to venture out to sea when it feels ready.
Joe Woolcott, General Curator at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, said the young penguin is now in great condition to return to the wild.
"The kororā sanctuary at Napier Port is the perfect place to get started as it is free from predators and human disturbance.
“It’s a great outcome and wonderful to share this moment with other passionate individuals from dedicated organisations working together for this species.”
