Gannet

Taronga Wildlife Hospital regularly admits and rehabilitates seabirds. Some species have included the endangered Wandering Albatross, Australasian Gannets, Southern Giant Petrel, Little Penguin, Westland Petrel and Fiordland Crested Penguin.

The Wildlife Hospitals at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos care for around 1,500 native animals each year. These animals are brought to the Hospitals by members of the community after being found sick, injured or orphaned. The main aim of the Wildlife Hospitals at Taronga and Western Plains Zoos is to rehabilitate as many native animals as possible back to the wild.

All these animals need professional care and attention during the treatment and  rehabilitation process to ensure they can be returned to their natural environment.

The Hospitals at both Zoos provide a high standard of veterinary expertise in the care of native animals and have well-equipped, modern veterinary facilities.

Seabirds are becoming increasing threatened by human activities such as fishing, tourism and pollution. Increased pollution and waste is a major problem with birds becoming entangled or ingesting fishing line, plastic debris and hooks. Oil spills also pose a major threat to seabirds.

Some 70% of our earth is covered by ocean with most of the life on our planet living in the sea. However, this is a resource we take for granted with millions of tons of plastic and waste entering the ocean each year.  'Do the right thing' with waste - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle. Take your own shopping bags, avoid buying over-packaged goods, reuse plastic bottles and bags, and recycle. These actions will help many marine animals.