Wednesday 30 October 2013

Just a few updates:
 
Fantastic result for the BBQ on Sunday at Shellharbour... we banked approx $1700... so well done to the team:  Tracey, John, Michael, Eddie, Leonie, Tess, Jennifer, David and Kay!   Thanks to those of you who donated some bits and pieces to the cause.  Our last BBQ for the year will be at Warrawong Bunnings on 30 November.
 
There are still a number of Shearwaters being found in the area.. keep us informed... Unfortunately the birds are so exhausted their rate of survival is low; however, our focus is getting them off the beaches where possible so they are not mauled by dogs or foxes.  Again, keep up the PROACTIVE PATROLS - there are birds out there with injuries - notify Betty on the hot line 0431282238 if you spot a bird that needs assistance.
 
There is a clean up at the Berkeley Boat Ramp on Sunday, 3 November from 9.30am... if you are able to come for an hour or so that would be great - it is filthy.  Annie and Julie's  Bushcare group will be cleaning up Hooka Pt at the same time.  Wear closed in shoes, and bring your own water, sunscreen and hat.
 
Shari has put forward a great initiative where ASR members join in with a multi-group CLEANUP at Jervis Bay, Long Beach, on Saturday, 14 December 2013, from mid morning.  She is approaching groups such as the Marine Mammal Research Volunteers, ORRCA, and Responsible Runners at Jervis Bay.  If you are interested I thought we could integrate a patrol into the day and have a picnic lunch.... mark your diaries and I will forward more information when it comes to hand.  We are looking at the media covering the initiative.  I am hoping some of our friends in the southern area can join us....
 
* Kirsten will be co-facilitating three workshops with the Wollongong Council during National Recycle Week:  if you are able to attend one of the workshops I have provided the details below.
 
It is being promoted as 'Birds in the Bag' and relates to promoting less plastic bags in our environment.  We are engaging with the community at large to identify ways in which this can be done.
 
Monday 11 November, 12.30pm-1.30pm @ Wollongong Library, 41 Burelli Street
Thursday 14 November, 11am-12noon @ Thirroul Library, 352-358 Lawrence Hargrave Drive
Tuesday 19 November, 2-3pm @ Warrawong Library, Level 1, 67-71 King St

Book now: at the above libraries or phone Council's Green Team on 42277262. Email: gt@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 


 Kirsten

Monday 21 October 2013

Sapphire’s Story

On 25th August Shaun and I attended to a call to pick up an unwell Little Penguin, that  Barry an Australian Seabird Rescue team member from down south, had picked up earlier from Dalmeny. We met Barry in Ulladulla and the very sick, underweight and lifeless bird came into our care. I initially thought that the penguin wouldn’t survive the car trip home, he was dehydrated, incredibly skinny and just about to give up the fight. There was barely any movement from the carry cage on the way home, his head was being held upright by towels and Shaun and I both didn’t believe there was much hope for this one.

We got home, administered fluids, antibiotics and Spark by stomach tube and set up our penguin cot, with lots of soft towels, a hide box and hot water bottles. He weighed a measly 540g, an adult Little Penguin should be 1kg or over. Things were not looking good. We performed a thorough examination of him, scrupulously checking for ticks, as he was showing signs of paralysis in the neck, feet and legs. There were no ticks to be found, but we realised his feet and legs had many superficial wounds and grazes. We tended to the wounds as best we could, washed away the sand and applied an antibiotic and soothing ointment to them. The next thing we noticed was a limp right flipper, bright lime green faeces and after many calls to Betty we came to the conclusion that Sapphire was suffering from Botulism. We decided that the other injuries could be dealt with once the Botulism had been treated.

Shaun performing a tick search on Sapphire the penguin on Day 1

Very sick Sapphire on Day 1


The next morning I tentatively went in to check, hoping for the best. He was still with us! He was still very much in a critical condition, flopped over, being supported by towels and very lethargic. I continued to feed him by stomach tube throughout the day. By day two he was standing for short periods, was aware of his surroundings, holding his head up and trying to walk. Later on in day two he accepted force fed whitebait, much to his disdain. Day 4 and Sapphire was holding himself upright without the aid of towels, still not walking but an incredible improvement. I continued with fluids and feeds four times a day and he began to rapidly gain weight. By Day 5 he was ready for his first warm bath, he was not impressed and it lasted approximately 2 minutes until I took him out to dry off , back to bed for Mr Cranky!

Sapphire the penguin standing up on Day 4


First bath on Day 6 fro Sapphire the penguin.


As I was preparing to force feed some fish to him on day 8, I could see a twinkle in his eye before a sharp snap, and the fish was gone! I held out another, snap! It was a breakthrough moment and Shaun and I became pretty excited. From here on Sapphire readily (greedily) took fish from our fingers.. that was until he started to get really cheeky,  if we weren’t fast enough getting the next fish to him he’d grab our fingers… we transitioned to feeding him with silicone tongs very quickly!

Sapphire the penguin tarting to free feed.

Shari feeding Sapphire the penguin.


He began to dramatically improve, getting fatter and more vocal by the day. That little flipper was still lame but he regained full movement in his feet and legs, he had beaten the botulism! And it was time to move out! Well, into the outdoor enclosure anyway.. Once moved outside he began to improve even further, and his true personality began to shine. He would call out loudly at sunrise, when he was hungry, while he was eating, when he’d finished eating, and on sunset. He soon worked out that when he called, I came running (with fish in hand). I was wrapped around his little flipper, and he knew it!

On day 31 he weighed  850g, nearly double of when he first came into care, he was well on his way to recovery. After many phone calls to Betty and Penny, we decided to give him a deep bath to test his flipper out. Unfortunately there were no signs of improvement so Betty took him for an assessment at Cannon and Ball Veterinary Clinic, they found that the flipper had an old injury and the decision to take him to Taronga Zoo for further assessment and treatment was made.

Sapphire the penguin having a bath outside.

Sapphire the penguin having a bath outside.


 Shaun and I made the trip up to Taronga Wildlife Hospital for the handover, and met with Libby Hall. She kindly gave us a fantastic tour of the veterinary clinic, hospital and rehabilitation facility and very generously gave us a visitor pass to do some “research” on the zoo! We really appreciate the lovely gesture and thanks to Libby we had an amazing experience of seeing what goes on behind the scenes at the zoo.

I’m in regular contact with Vanessa at the Wildlife Hospital at Taronga Zoo, and Sapphire is settling in nicely. He is continually recovering and putting on weight, and being as vocal and cheeky as ever. The latest news is that he will not be suitable for release into the wild due to his flipper. A release into the wild would mean certain death for a penguin who cannot swim or fish. He will eventually join the zoo’s collection once he has fully recovered, served his time in quarantine and go on display with the rest of the colony in the Great Southern Oceans display.

A massive thank you to the team at Taronga, Libby Hall, Betty, Penny and Cannon & Ball Vet Clinic for your advice and assistance with Sapphire! Shaun and I both learned a lot while looking after him and are very happy with the outcome. We plan to sponsor/adopt Sapphire once he joins the Taronga colony and maybe even make a few visits to say hello.

Shari