Wildlife Patients

Wildlife Care

Wildlife rehabilitation is the rescue, first aid and supportive care of injured or ill native species.

Wildlife patients in the Kaikōura region consist of primarily seabirds, as well as terrestrial species.

 

Our Patients

Wildlife rehabilitation involves veterinary treatment, nursing and nutritional support. Unfortunately the majority of wildlife patients/tūroro are ill or injured due to human related causes. This includes seabird starvation as a result of climate change, over-fishing induced prey depletion, fisheries by-catch, marine entanglements, plastic ingestion, boat strike, vehicle strike, window strike, light pollution induced seabird crash landings, introduced predators, irresponsible pet ownership, wildlife crimes, illness and toxicity.

Given the high incidence of wildlife patient cases in Kaikōura, it is anticipated that the wildlife hospital will admit >1,500 animals/kararehe per year in need of specialist care, based on hundreds of patients annually over the past six years (whilst our Trust Founder was operating on a significantly reduced voluntary scale). Patient numbers are set to increase as environmental threats and the biodiversity crisis worsen. While some threats are well known, others are just emerging.

The significance of species declines, as well as avoidable wildlife injury and mortality from human related causes is considerable, with the Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital set to have a significant impact. The centre will enable a regional transformational shift, benefitting our at-risk species and future generations.

Unwell Wildlife

  • If you find an ill or injured Hutton’s shearwater or penguin, please report to 021 585 586 at Project WellBird.

    If requested to rescue, please carefully capture the bird using a towel. Please house in a ventilated box in a quiet cool area until handover can be arranged. Please minimise handling and do not attempt to feed or hydrate birds.

    For other native bird species please contact the Department of Conservation by calling the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468 to request transfer to a local DOC ranger for rescue assistance.

  • Unwell shearwaters or penguins with a chance of recovery require handover to our voluntary wildlife rehabilitator at Project WellBird for treatment.

    Injured native birds can be handed in to VetCare Kaikoura at 75 Athelney Road, for assessment or euthanasia. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm, Sat 9am-12pm.

    Alternatively, please contact DOC Rangers at the Kaikōura DOC Field Base via the Renwick DOC Office by phoning 03 572 9100, or the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468.

  • If you find crash landed Hutton’s shearwater adults during the breeding season from August-February, please rescue and release into the sea (off wharves, boat ramps or slipways), to let birds swim or dive off.

    The Hutton’s Hub next to the DOC Office on 115 Ludstone Road is open for drop-offs from March-April, to assess and release fledglings.

    Project WellBird will treat and rehabilitate unwell shearwaters.

    Please take severely injured shearwaters to VetCare Kaikoura for euthanasia.

  • Wildlife rehabilitators are not authorised to assist marine mammals.

    Please report unwell fur seals to the DOC Hotline on 0800 362 468. The Department of Conservation will respond if a seal is 1) in poor body condition, 2) severely injured, 3) immediate danger, 4) tangled in marine debris, 5) trapped on a highway, or 6) being harassed.

    Currently many emaciated seals are being reported. DOC rangers may euthanise where appropriate. DOC is working with MPI to determine population loss as a result of starvation.

Rescue, rehabilitate, release. Together we can give native species the best chance of survival, by treating unwell wildlife to preserve populations.