Wellington Zoo raises $18,000 for albatrosses injured in storm

Wellington Zoo has launched an “urgent” crowdfunding campaign to help take care of 20 sick and injured birds that were swept up in this week’s storm, including several albatrosses.

Less than 24 hours after the campaign went live, donations had surpassed $18,000.

Wellington Zoo’s communications manager Erin Reilly told the Herald it was “quite rare” for the charity to run fundraising campaigns but this situation called for it.

“People are really appreciating the work that goes into taking care of these precious birds.”

Its seabird patients include a royal northern albatross, a white-capped albatross, a Salvin’s albatross, a tawaki nana hī (erect-crested penguin), petrels and shearwaters.

The zoo posted about its fundraising campaign on social media, stating: “The birds in our care are suffering from intense dehydration, injuries caused by being grounded, and even kidney failure.”

One of the injured albatrosses taken in by Wellington Zoo after they were disoriented and blown to shore by extreme weather this week.

“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 post said the zoo’s veterinary team were busy rehydrating the birds, giving them health checks, IV fluids and nutritional support.

The birds had access to a saltwater pool to keep their feathers waterproofed until they could be safely released.

One of the albatrosses recovering at Wellington Zoo.

The post said albatrosses have long life expectancies but only have chicks once every few years.

“Being able to nurse these birds back to full health and return them has a major impact on conservation,” it said.

In May last year, the zoo took care of five albatrosses after a similar storm hit Wellington.

Reilly said the zoo did not put out calls for donations then and “just coped” with the costs.

Much of the zoo’s funds come from ticket sales and general donations but Wellington’s tough economic climate meant fewer people were visiting, she said.

Te Kōhanga The Nest costs Wellington Zoo $1 million annually to run.

“When you get unexpected instances like this, they drain human and financial resources.”

She said the donations coming in from members of the public now were “heartwarming”.

The funds raised in this current campaign would go towards Wellington Zoo’s care facility Te Kōhanga The Nest, which costs $1 million annually to run.

More than $300,000 of those funds would be used to supply medication and equipment needed in veterinary care.

Janhavi Gosavi is a Wellington-based journalist for the New Zealand Herald who covers news in the capital.