Penguin rescued from airport returns to wild
The kororā (little blue penguin) who was found on Wellington Airport’s tarmac in mid-January has had a month of rest and relaxation at the Wellington Zoo.
This week, vets decided the penguin’s feathers had become waterproof enough that it could be released back into the wild.
Yesterday the penguin was released into a nesting box at Moa Point, where it can make its way back to the ocean in its own time.
“All signs point to them finding their way back to the sea to catch some tasty fish,” a spokesperson for the zoo said.
The fledgling penguin was only six weeks old when it was found on the runway. Vets described his condition as “dehydrated, hungry and a little underweight”. “Our vets put the kororā on a weight gain diet and carried out some general check-ups to ensure this native penguin was happy and healthy.”
The kororā was looked after by vets at Te Kōhanga, the zoo’s animal hospital for native wildlife. There it went for long swims in the saltwater pool, which helped to waterproof its feather and prepare it for release into the wild.
This was a crucial step for the penguin, because the waterproofing protects the penguin from the cold and moisture in the ocean.
“Even the tiniest patches of non-waterproof feathers can cause significant issues, and it’s crucial to wait for this process to be complete.”
Vets regularly tested the penguin’s features by assessing the inner downy feathers for dryness after a swim. Once the inner feathers stayed dry, the vets knew the waterproofing was complete and the penguin was ready to be released back into its natural habitat.