Rare bird healing at Penguin Place

A rare Fiordland crested penguin has started making human friends at Dunedin's Penguin Place hospital after being rescued from Haast on the West Coast eight days ago.

The adult male penguin became the first penguin to be treated at the Wanaka Veterinary Centre when it was sent there last Monday, Wanaka vet Beth Campbell said yesterday.

She stitched cuts to the penguin's back and neck and treated its infected eye.

Ms Campbell said it was exciting to operate on a wild animal.

"Where we are situated you don't get too much wildlife coming through the doors."

Ms Campbell said she suspected the wounds were inflicted when the penguin was trapped in a man-made object like a fishing line.

"I suspect that if the wounds were caused by an animal there would be signs of tearing, but they were very clean and straight."

Fiordland crested penguins, or tawaki, are one of New Zealand's rarest mainland penguins.

They are found along the coastlines of South Westland, Fiordland, Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island.

The bird was taken to Penguin Place on Wednesday.

Penguin Place owner Howard McGrouther said the bird should be ready for release in a week's time.

"This fellow is looking very good, apart from being a little sick."

Department of Conservation biodiversity assets programme manager David Agnew said a decision had not yet been made about what would happen to the penguin when he was ready to go back to sea.