Rescued albatross released into wild

Photo / Cole Johnstone, Dive! Tutukaka

Daniel the albatross, who crash-landed on Ninety Mile Beach last week, spread his wings before being released back into the wild off the Tutukaka coast yesterday.

Daniel, a wandering albatross, was found on Ninety Mile Beach by ambulance officer Daniel Leef and his father Shane Leef, a fisheries officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries.

He was taken to the Whangarei Bird Recovery Centre, where he was rested and fed before being released into the wild yesterday off a Dive! Tutukaka boat.

He was released at Fraser's Landing around 10am. He chilled in the area for two hours before flying away.