A report came in to the DOC hotline today about a penguin trapped in a hole in a garden in Hokitika. With a number of loose dogs common in the Revell Street beach side area of the town, the decision was made to leave the little fellow in the hole, where he had space, and was cool and safe. As darkness crept in, Inger Perkins and Zoe Watson of the Trust went to rescue him and return him to a nearby section of beach with good vegetation cover.
The penguin is believed to be a juvenile that has just developed his full plumage and must have been exploring beyond his nest. And not just beyond the nest, but over the road, through the garden gates and then into a large hole.
It seems that this is the season for juveniles to be out exploring. Three juveniles were rescued from a drain in Picton last week and you can read the story here: Penguins rescued in Picton. Juvenile little blue penguins are usually a brighter shade of blue than the adults and their eyes are darker.
Videos of the young bird are on youtube: Little blue penguin heads to freedom at Hokitika and Little blue penguin looks around.
