ANIMALS
Little Blue Penguin On Runway At New Zealand Airport Delays Flight
Wellington International Airport
A flight’s takeoff was delayed when a blue penguin was spotted on the runway in New Zealand earlier this month, airport officials said Tuesday.
The Wellington International Airport on Tuesday shared photos of the kororā, or blue penguin, that prevented a pilot from taking off on Jan. 12.
The pilot and passengers patiently waited while Wellington Airport staff raced out to collect and help the visitor, the airport wrote alongside the photos. Our runway sensors were reading 50 degrees at the time, so it’s no wonder they weren’t particularly happy!
New Zealand, like the rest of the southern hemisphere, is currently experiencing summer, and 50 degrees Celsius is around 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
We took our little friend to The Nest at Wellington Zoo to recover, and weve done some penguin proofing to our fences to keep our flippered friends out of trouble in future, the airport said.
The Nest Te Kōhanga at the Wellington Zoo is an award-winning hospital for native wildlife, which features rehabilitation rooms, a custom salt water pool and state-of-the-art equipment. The Nest treats hundreds of sick and injured wildlife patients each year, according to its website.
Kororā is the Māori name for the species also known as a blue penguin, little blue penguin, or fairy penguin. The species is native to New Zealand, and typically measures between 12 and 13 inches tall, and weighs around 3 pounds.
TMX contributed to this article.
