A rehabilitation service looking after and caring for more than a dozen penguins in the state’s north-west is seeking help from the public as the cost of fish depletes its funds.
Sixteen little penguins are currently in care at Burnie’s Penguin Rehab & Release, with more birds expected to come in as soon as others are released – but the organisation says funds have run out.
“We are currently in desperate need of financial support as we have had an extremely busy and expensive season,” the organisation said.
With a weekly cost of around $400 to buy enough fish to feed the penguins in care, a GoFundMe has been started to raise funds for the rehabilitation service to continue its work.
“This has been a very busy season, with 33 penguins already having been successfully rehabilitated and released into the wild.”
“Penguin Rehab & Release urgently need help to be able to cover these costs and get these penguins through the rest of their rehabilitation and back out into the ocean where they belong.”
Some of the penguins in care were pulled from burrows by humans, while others are recovering from a horrific incident on Burnie’s West Beach last year that resulted in three youths being charged with animal cruelty offences.
To support Penguin Rehab and Release in caring for sick and injured penguins, visit their GoFundMe page here.
