How A Little Blue Penguin Caused Flight Delays At Wellington Airport

Summary

A blue penguin caused a flight delay in Wellington after wandering onto the runway in scorching hot temperatures.
Airport staff quickly rescued the penguin and took it to a wildlife rescue center at Wellington Zoo for care and treatment.
The penguin, estimated to be six weeks old, will be released back into the wild once its feathers are waterproofed.

Travelers in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, experienced some delays to their flights on Friday, January 12th, when a little blue penguin wandered across the apron.

Spotted by a pilot from the regional carrier, Air Chathams, the wildlife officer at Wellington International Airport (WLG) was quickly deployed to rescue the little critter, which was in a less than impressed mood on pick up.

Given that you ‘can’t beat Wellington on a good day,’ we doubt the penguin was pleased with the scorching hot runway on its little feet, reaching around 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

First time for everything

Jack Howarth, the Wellington Airport Wildlife Officer, noted that the kororā (little penguin) was likely the first to visit the airport. He probably found his way onto the grounds by wriggling under a boundary fence. Airport staff have now made further improvements to the bottom of its fences to ensure local animals stay clear of the busy airport.

Airport staff could not identify how long the penguin had been exposed to the direct sun without shelter, food, or water. They took him to ‘The Nest,’ an award-winning wildlife rescue center at Wellington Zoo.

Estimated to be only six weeks old at the time of his airport adventure, once at ‘The Nest,’ he received blood work and an x-ray to confirm he was in good health. He has been tuckering into a weight gain diet, which has included plenty of delicious local fish. Expected to be re-released into the wild in a couple of weeks, The Nest released this statement to RNZ:

“The veterinary team at Te Kōhanga is waiting for the kororā’s feathers to be waterproofed before releasing them back into the wild. The waterproofing of seabirds’ feathers is a crucial step in their growth, as waterproof feathers ensure seabirds stay warm and dry when they’re swimming for food.”

Smallest penguin in the world

The Korora, or little blue penguin, is the smallest species of penguin in the world, and at its typical adult size, it reaches just 25 centimeters (9.8 inches), weighs around one kilogram (2.2 pounds), and has a life span of about eight to ten years.

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Photo: WLG Airport

The eagle-eyed pilot who spotted the flippered friend was operating a direct service from the remote archipelago of the Chatham Islands, some 800 kilometers (430 miles) to the east of the New Zealand mainland. Home to around 600 permanent residents, the islands are connected to Wellington from Chatham Islands Tuuta Airport (CHT), with a thrice-weekly service. The flights are operated by Air Chathams’ ATR 72-500s inherited from Air New Zealand, the nation’s largest airline.

On the days Air Chatham isn’t serving the Kiwi capital, it deploys the aircraft on its direct routes between the Chathams, Auckland, and Christchurch or for charters with Tauck Tours or transporting local sports teams.