EcoWorld Aquarium Nicknamed Two Little Blue Penguin Chicks "Bert and Ernie"

By John Reuhman

Picton, New Zealand - New father Regan Russell is taking extra care of the latest arrivals at EcoWorld Aquarium. The two Little Blue Penguin chicks have been affectionately nicknamed “Bert and Ernie”.

In response to a distress call from a concerned member of the public Regan, EcoWorld's manager, rescued the two starving penguin chicks from the Picton Foreshore.

“The chicks are very lucky to be alive. I found them in a poor state, starving and shivering. They were next to the mauled body of an adult penguin. Mum maybe.

It looks like a dog might have attacked the penguin and killed it.

I went back the next day and sadly I found two more dead penguin chicks. They look like might have also been savaged by a dog, perhaps one of those randoms allowed to run loose on the Picton Foreshore ! We hear quite a bit about penguins being hammered in and around Picton”.

Regan and the staff at EcoWorld Aquarium are really taken with Bert and Ernie, who are thriving on their diet of salmon smelt.

“The new penguin chicks are in safe hands getting twice daily feeds of salmon smelt. They're really ravenous. We weigh them each day to check on their progress. We hope they'll be released back into the wild around Christmas time.

We expect to be caring for more injured penguins over the summer. We've established a refuge and safe breeding area with 10 nest boxes. The penguins will be free to come and go as they please”.

Korora or Little Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor), are found all along New Zealand's coastline and often fall prey to rats, cats, dogs and other predators. Little Blue Penguins are in decline in the wild, especially in areas where they are not protected from predators. The Department of Conservation now ranks them as “Lower risk – near threatened”.

If anyone finds an injured or ill Little Blue Penguin they should contact the local DOC office.

Photo: 1 year old Finn Russell gets up close with new local Ernie

To view EcoWorld Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-3116-EcoWorld_Aquarium