Hospital gets helping hands

The Dunedin Wildlife Hospital has received a helping hand from around 20 volunteers as it battles to care for hoiho/yellow eyed penguin chicks impacted by avian diphtheria.

The bacterial infection had a low survival rate without treatment, and had spread to virtually all of the colonies and nests on mainland New Zealand.

This meant the wildlife hospital would this year care for almost all the hoiho chicks from the Catlins to North Otago.

Senior veterinary nurse and practice manager Angelina Martelli said it was the busiest time of year for the hospital.

"It's a constant putting the washing on, cleaning syringes, drawing up new food, writing up their daily record sheets, checking all the checks."

As a team of five, they could not do all this would without extra help, she said.

They would often start about 6.45am, and the day did not end until after 8.30pm.

About 20 specialist volunteers from across the country had pitched in.

"They've all come at different times ... they come from other institutions."

This included people from Wellington Zoo, Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium.

"These are all people that have expertise and wildlife handling, food handling and a lot of them have a lot of veterinary ... experience as well."