70 hoiho chicks given care near the Wildlife Hospital, Dunedin

One of the 100 yellow-eyed penguin chicks admitted to the Dunedin Animal Hospital this month. Photo / ODT

Wildlife Infirmary staff, rangers and volunteers have already been working around the clock to take care of 100 yellow-eyed penguin chicks since the beginning of this particular month.

Hoiho chicks began to hatch across Otago since Southland in late October, and the doctor’s had received patients with diphtheria stomatitis (an infection that can instigate respiratory problems) in waves from.

Hospital manager Jordana Whyte said the hoiho girls weighed just 120g to 150g.

“These little ducks are so tiny — just a small number — so mostly they have, poop and sleep, just like a great number babies. ”

The pair were brought in by field teams because of the Department of Conservation, the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, Penguin Place, Penguin Rescue, and University of Otago researchers and volunteers who had been out in “every weather”.

“Our vet team and helpers appear to have been absolutely run off their feet, very well Whyte said.

Wildlife Hospital business manager Jordana Whyte. Photo / ODT

Within care, brooder units were once had to keep them warm and maintain humidity identical to what they would experience in their nest.

They were also handed toys for something to cuddle up to, in the manner they would nestle up to a parent, she said.

“Sometimes we see the chicks hoping beg food off the teddy bears, so it’s working at least a bit to robber them. ”

However diet was not cute.

Hospital staff feed the the baby birds a “fish slurry”, which was a combination of sardines, white fish, salmon and most liquid nutrients, up to five times manage.

“Thank goodness to get volunteers with strong stomachs, inch Whyte said.

And some chicks could be treated in their nest, field rangers would make the call on the penguins needed to be taken into care.

This year, most obligated extra care because some of the mother and fathers were inexperienced or first-time dog breeders and their chicks had not thrived as such, she said.

One of the 100 yellow-eyed penguin chicks admitted to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital this month. Photo or ODT

“They are some coming to us while using respiratory distress — the cause of which often we are still looking into. ”

While the work could be thanking, it was hard and heartbreaking many times, Whyte said.

And than 40 of the chicks ran into already been returned home which was each “great result”.

“We are hoping the majority of the patients we have now will also be cleared to go back home soon. ”