South Island Wildlife Hospital

06/10/2026

We don't commonly get tūī at the hospital because unlike other parts of the country, they're not that prevalent in and around the Garden City. This individual came to us from Kaikōura after being found with a broken wing.
Bird bones typically heal in half the time of our own bones if broken. Fractures may be stabilised surgically or via a splint bandage during this time. This tui is showing off not just the bright yellow wing bandage but also their distinctive white parson's feathers (poi). If healing is adequate, birds then need flight strengthening before they can be considered for release back to the wild.

01/10/2026

Penguins love their mohawk stage as they transition from their fluff to their feathers. This kororā came to us through Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust and they have already made it back there following the end of the juvenile moult and ensuring they were waterproof. They're such dashing little manu.

28/09/2026

Visitors to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve might have noticed some changes around the front of the hospital as they passed us by. Our new neighbouring triage suite, built by and provided to us by Willowbank is now operational as we continue to follow biosecurity protocols following the emergence of bird flu in Aotearoa.
For the nearly 12 years that the hospital has been functioning on this site, Willowbank have been a major supporter of our mahi through the provision of land, electricity and waste disposal. As a charity, we remain grateful for their immense support.

20/09/2026

We recently had this beautiful blue petrel come in to the hospital which was found inland in a starved condition. Petrels are oceanic birds that typically don't come to land out of breeding season so coming across one on the mainland, never mind inland, is usually an indication that a bird of this type is sick.
After several weeks of rehabilitation, this manu was released back to the wild on the coast.

14/09/2026

We have a LOT of thanks to give to some incredible people and companies that have recently donated labour, time, and supplies to help us get a new biosecurity-ready triage suite set up next to the hospital.
Michael O'Keeffe of Floors by Michael and Harrisons Flooring & Curtains provided and installed the interior lino; Beattie Air Conditioning Ltd provided the extractor fan, hosing and filtration set up; Bunnings Warehouse New Zealand provided paint; and Bishopdale Menz Shed members Alan Chalmers, Brian Mackenzie, Richard Rendle and Peter Dini gave up their time to get it all painted.
This triage suite will be a great asset for us to use as part of our patient admittance protocols going forward. We can only keep doing what we do thanks to the generosity of others. A huge thank-you to all involved.

12/09/2026

Last month we received this juvenile kororā through Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust which was found underweight during a monitoring check. Sporting a spectacular downy mullet, we have watched it finalise its moult into feathers and are readying it for release. The little blue penguin colony in Kaikōura is very small and at high risk of disturbance. Adhering to no access signage and keeping dogs away can help minimise additional stress on a species that is already struggling with compromised foraging opportunities.

02/09/2026

One of our patients is the kea of the month over at KCT.

01/09/2026

Can you spot this gull's problem? On the right side of the neck, you might notice a gap in the feathers. This tarāpunga has a crop burn: a hole (fistula) that opens up from the digestive tract through the skin. This occurs with thermal and caustic burns and eating hot food such as stolen chips is a likely problem in these scavenging birds. Once the fistula occurs, not only is infection a problem but any future meals fall out of the neck instead of reaching the stomach, leading to weight loss from malnutrition.
Following surgery to correct and close the fistula, this red-billed gull is currently recovering at the hospital. To help prevent this injury, please don't feed gulls and be mindful of dropping hot food on the ground when eating al fresco.

28/08/2026

21/08/2026

Most kea that we receive at the hospital are juveniles as they get up to a lot of mischief while learning about the world. It is less common for an adult, like this one, to come to us. Adults lose the distinctive yellow colouring that juveniles have around the eyes, across the nostrils (cere), and the shading on the beak. Take a look back at our previous kea posts to see the difference.
This individual, known as Hohoro, arrived with a broken beak which necessitated the use of a special material to bind and hold it back together. This is visible in the photo as a lighter colouration at the tip of the beak. Healing went well and they appear to be able to feed themselves despite the injury.