Zoo’s little blues are a singing a happier song now

Photo: JASON OXENHAM
FIGHTING FIT: Auckland Zoo’s new little blue penguin, front, with new flatmate Coral.
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Zoo’s little blues are a singing a happier song now
By JOCELYN REIN
12/06/2009

Auckland Zoo’s newest resident has taken a while to get his bearings, but it’s not because of a lack of hospitality.

The little blue penguin, who is yet to be named, was brought in with only one flipper after being rescued from West Harbour Marina by a member of the public.

It’s been a long and careful recovery for the small bird, who was very badly injured, says New Zealand natives zookeeper Dave Robbins.

The penguin had lost his flipper entirely and there was bone showing through a large gash, probably after being hit by a boat.

Zoo staff immediately went to work treating the penguin with the help of vet Berend West.

Mr Robbins says it had possibly been injured for up to two weeks when it was found and for a while the penguin’s survival was in doubt.

"He’s actually quite lucky to be alive I think. It was definitely touch and go when he first got here.

"So we were really excited but at the same time we weren’t sure. It could have gone the other way as well."

The youngster is now thriving in his new home and isn’t letting his missing flipper slow him down.

Mr Robbins says none of the staff were sure how well he would swim again but within a few minutes of getting into the pool, he was swimming perfectly straight.

He’s also put on much-needed weight, and is now 879 grams, compared with just 648g when he was found.

His arrival at the zoo has also been good news for his new flatmate Coral, the zoo’s only other little blue penguin. She had been living alone after five companions died in unrelated incidents over the last year.

Until recently, it was thought she might be sent to another zoo while the penguin aviary was redeveloped.

But Mr Robbins says now the two can stay together in the temporary enclosure until later in the year.

Although they have quite different personalities and took a while to get used to each other, keepers came in the other day to find they had moved in together and are now sleeping in the same box.

There is a possibility they will mate and there will be eggs next breeding season.

"It’s a fantastic result for us as well," he says.

After the new aviary is finished the zoo will be looking to expand the penguin colony again and Mr Robbins says they will probably bring in birds from rescue centres.

He says more and more rescue centres are being set up around the country and anyone who finds an injured bird should take it to the nearest one.

Source:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/2491857/Zoo-s-little-blues-are-a-singing-a-happier-song-now