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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
Every year we measure and weigh all of our yellow-eyed penguin chicks when they reach the milestone of 70 days to see how they are getting on. They ought to be at least 5kg and most of them managed that comfortably - one was 6.2kg! On average they were 5.3kg but we had to bring in four chicks that were definitely not thriving - around 4.5kg. Another 6 chicks were borderline and we will re-weigh them again a week later to see if they have put on weight. If not they go into rehab as the parents are obviously not coping. If they have put on weight we will leave them with the parents. Everyone gets re-weighed at 90 days and should be over 5.5kg then.
Taken chicks away from the parents will allow them to fatten up sufficiently for the moult and we expect them to manage that unassisted. So relieving the parents and getting the chicks away at fledging age (108 days old) from rehab weighing over 6kg means the parents are ok and the chicks have the best possible chance of surviving. Win-win all around! |
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