A little penguin that survived a brutal attack in Northern Tasmania last week has undergone surgery to save his leg that was left broken and “dangling”.
Sharing an update online, the team at the Forth Valley Vet clinic say the ‘curious and cheeky’ little penguin has been given the nickname ‘Tib’.
“Tib came in with a fractured tibia, a broken toe dirty with sand and debris and other mild external wounds,” they said.
To help save Tib’s leg, orthopaedic surgery was performed, which involved inserting a small metal plate and tiny screws, as well as removing Tib’s damaged toe and some feathers.
“It was intricate surgery inserting a tiny metal plate, even tinier screws, navigate around small vessels and small fragile bones,” the clinic added.
“It took over two hours for the team to perform.”
Despite the extensive damage, the team at the clinic remains optimistic that Tib’s leg will heal and that he will eventually be able to return to his family and home in the wild.
Over the coming weeks, the team at the clinic will be working closely with an experienced penguin wildlife carer to check on Tib’s healing progress and repeat radiographs to see how his bone is repairing.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with police identifying and charging three youths with alleged offences relating to animal cruelty and the maiming and the killing of a little penguin on the Burnie foreshore.
Tib is now learning to trust humans before he begins the long journey of healing and rehabilitation.
