Not so Happy Feet missing

Media release: 29 August 2014

A distressed and injured Little Penguin was last seen being put in a box yesterday on the east side of Manly Wharf and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling on anyone who knows where the troubled little bird is now.

The NPWS’s Little Penguin Co-ordinator, Ranger Mel Tyas said NPWS was extremely concerned for the bird’s plight and stressed it would need immediate help.

“We have people who confirmed seeing it being taken away in a cardboard box but we have been unable to track its whereabouts since then,” Ms Tyas said.

“The penguin was seen by a number of people who described it as having what appeared to be a chewed tail and was being attacked by birds on the east side of Manly.

“With our close connections to Taronga Zoo, WIRES and the Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Service we know it was not picked up by these agencies - which is troubling as the little bird will need specialist care.

“If someone did pick it up, we would ask the well–meaning person to drop it off to Taronga Wildlife Hospital as soon as possible or call 9978 4785 – even if it did not survive. 

Ms Tyas said that people should report all sick and injured Little Penguins to NPWS duty officer on 9457-9577 in the first instance.

“Little Penguins are not like their Antarctic cousins and don’t like to be out in the cold - a sick Little Penguin really needs very specialist care if it is to be nurtured back to health,” Ms Tyas said.

“Someone must know what happened to it, so if you know where it is, dead or alive, please let us know straight away,” she said.

Contact: Gabrielle Last