It was the first thought that ran through Dunedin city councillor Steve Walker’s mind when he spotted a hoiho yellow-eyed penguin in Otago Harbour earlier this week.
"I noticed it while cycling home from a council meeting on Monday.
"It was just off of the shared path to Port Chalmers, in the inlet near St Leonard’s — definitely not where it should be.
"It had obviously become disoriented and gotten lost," he said.
"It was looking rather thin and weak — it had no desire to run or swim away."
Cr Walker said he cycled the path most days and had a good knowledge of hoiho behaviour through his long-standing involvement with the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.
He called staff at the wildlife hospital to confirm his suspicion, that it was unusual to see a yellow-eyed penguin at this location.
He said Department of Conservation (Doc) staff were contacted and came to collect the large bird.
"Doc is very skilled in hoiho ‘wrangling’ and they performed the pickup perfectly.
"The hoiho put up a little resistance, but this was a positive sign.
"It spent a day in the wildlife hospital, getting a good check-up and a slap-up feed," he said.
"It is now over at Penguin Place, getting fattened up and hopefully some lessons in penguin navigational skills."
Cr Walker was delighted staff at the hospital had named the penguin after him.
"They wanted to name it Steve, but because it’s a girl, they decided to settle for Stevie."
