Little "Reshi" arrived three weeks ago, found wandering the Banks-Peninsula-track well away from any nest site.Around 200g it was down to luck that it was spotted and handed over to the local farmer. Lots of "fish-smoothie" later and now on solid salmon Reshi is approaching the kilo mark...
On Wednesday we released 4 white-flippered penguins back into the wild after a short stay in rehab.... They were found by the public on Christchurch beaches in Sumner and New Brighton and brought in directly to us or the South Island Wildlife Hospital and then transferred to us. Good luck, guys...
Our pleasant Tawaki was finally released after moulting into a complete set of new feathers...the two attempts of local plucking were only partially successful, so we had to wait for the regular moult to start. She came out of it nicely and was transferred to the West Coast via plane (all over the news). Released at the beach she went straight into the water, good luck...
Two of our "flood victims" from Pohatu/ Flea Bay have been seen back in the colony after 2 years! They were hand-raised in 2021 after been rescued out of flooded nest-boxes and micro-chipped before release. They just hatched their first chick!!!
A very unfortunate young LBP had to be transferred to the IAC as it could not be released after a dog attack in Kaikoura. It had come down from Wellington just to be injured by a dog...It lost an eye in the process and therefore could not be released as it can not chase fish with an eye missing.
The feathers of our "long-term" client are finally growing back. The shorn-off shafts had to be pulled at the Wildlife Hospital to enable regrowth. In 2 weeks time she should be heading home...
This FCP (Fjordland crested penguin) female was brought in by DoC from Sumner! It has been seen the previous day in South Brighton. A close encounter with a shark left it vulnerable to hypothermia as it was no longer waterproof...
