Rescued Penguins Released

June 25, 2010

It’s been a tough year for penguins. Fish populations continue to be low (we believe due to overfishing), and they’re literally starving. Penguins must put on enough weight to sustain them through the long weeks they’re stuck on land while they moult. They’re not waterproof during the moult, and can’t fish, so they have to live off their fat. Without these reserves, they starve. However, some lucky penguins are picked up by caring people and brought to us. If they’re over 500g, we can usually save them. We feed them until their weight is back up to between 1 to 1.5 kgs), then release them back into the ocean. It’s an emotional time, watching them swim happily out to sea. They always pause to look back, as if they’re saying goodbye. Each penguin has their own personality, and they quickly capture our hearts. This photo is of Michael with Miss Bossy, moments before her release.