Wellington Zoo is overwhelmed with sick seabirds and they're asking for a hand

A fundraiser to help care for and rehabilitate 20 seabirds needs as much support from us Kiwis as possible - because it’s a big job for an even greater cause.

Wellington Zoo is currently caring for the numerous birds that were caught up in last week’s brutal storm, which has left many Wellington homes still without power.

Among the long list of patients is a Royal Northern Albatross, White-capped Albatrosses, a Salvin’s Albatross, plus a Tawaki nana hī (Erect-Crested Penguin), petrels, shearwaters and more.

During the extreme weather, these birds were swept up, disoriented and blown to shore. Instead of thriving, flying over the ocean, they ended up grounded and seriously unwell.

The zoo says many of the birds are suffering from “intense dehydration, injuries caused by being grounded, and even kidney failure.”

Their veterinary team has their hands full, rehydrating the birds, carrying out health checks, administering IV fluids and providing nutritional support. They’re also making sure the birds are fully waterproofed in the zoo’s saltwater pool before they’re strong enough to be released back out over the ocean, where they belong.

And the mahi matters more than you might think.

Albatrosses, in particular, have long life expectancies and lay chicks only every few years, meaning each bird plays a huge role in sustaining its population. As the zoo explains, saving the albatrosses in their care “goes a long way in terms of protecting their species.”

Being able to nurse these birds back to full health and return them to the wild has a massive conservation impact.

Now, the team is asking for support from all of us.

The zoo is encouraging Kiwis to consider making a donation to help them fund the medicine, equipment and ongoing care it takes to get these seabirds ready to hit the ocean again.

“Funding the equipment and medicine used to care for animals is one of the most direct ways to play a role in their recovery,” the zoo shared, adding they’re “so grateful to anyone who wishes to support us so we can see these birds get back on the ocean where they belong.”

Honestly, if there’s anything that deserves sparing your coffee money this week, this feels like a good cause.