Sunday 7th January 2024

Just babies really

​Hello friends and family
Happy New Year.
2024 started here with sunshine and light breezes. Dan and I had planned an adventure – visiting the dead whale, but it was too difficult to walk on the wet clay platform to get around the headland, so we gave up. Dan ran the length of Hampden beach – 10kms and I picked him up at the Moeraki end.
On Tuesday we microchipped 19 chicks down the hill and welcomed a group of 25 visiting American rehabbers. Their task for the afternoon was to weed the wildlife reserve, which is most appreciated. It was a big job, so they came back on Thursday afternoon and finished it.

The visitors

​On Thursday morning, the team micro-chipped the chicks at Okahau, the Bluffs and in rehab. Only 15 more to do on Tuesday to complete the job!

One of the last chicks

​It was a busy day on Thursday. After the micro-chipping and visitors, we uplifted our first juvenile YEP of the season. They are brought in from now on, to help them through the moult. He is of concern at 5 kgs and has no appetite. Then Jim the DOC ranger arrived, and we helped him free a seal from a fishing net. It was resting on the island and fortunately, not too large. What a great start to the year – saving a victim of human carelessness!

Then yesterday, Dan went down to keeper’s bay and found 12 dead seals – 3 of which had been decapitated. We have reported it to DOC.
Have a great week!
Rosalie
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