Oil spill penguins returned to wild

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Oil spill penguins returned to wild

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Forty penguins, cleaned and treated for oil damage, were released on beach in the city of Tauranga.

15 December,2011 08:14 pm

A large crowd gathered to watch the event, with the penguins transported to the beach in coloured boxes before being allowed to waddle down to the sea in New Zealand.The penguins had been recuperating at the Wildlife Recovery Centre at Tauranga, where they were washed and scrubbed, and held until their beach habitat was cleared of most of the spilled oil.The operation required around 100 staff to care for the birds, with each of the penguins needing a meal prepared twice a day.Its the last of the penguins from Mount Maunganui. There are a few birds with some foot issues that are being held back, and there are some birds from Motiti Island that are still to go out, but this is the last big release of penguins from Mount Maunganui.