Wellington Zoo has launched an urgent fundraiser after taking in more than 30 seabirds injured during last week’s wild stormy weather. Many birds, including albatrosses, petrels and penguins, were blown off course and ended up swept up or washed ashore.
The zoo’s lead vet, Shanna Rose, said staff have been “overwhelmed” by the number of patients arriving. She explained the zoo is running out of space, so some birds are being cared for in plastic tubs while the team finds room.
Rose said many of the birds do not just have bruises or broken feathers. A common problem after a hard crash landing is organ failure, which can stop a bird’s stomach and gut from working properly. That makes treatment slow and complicated, because the birds need careful support to help their bodies start working normally again.
Even though more than a week has passed since the storm, new birds are still being brought in. Rose said the later arrivals are often the sickest, because they may have struggled for longer before being found.
The zoo treats injured wildlife in its hospital clinic, Te Kōhanga The Nest, which costs about one million dollars a year to run. Staff say those costs are rising, and the sudden surge of seabirds has stretched supplies, space and money.
Wellington Zoo is now asking the public to consider donating so the team can keep treating the birds and give them the best chance of survival.
