Exploring Wildbase Recovery Centre in Palmerston North,
The Manawatū KCC adventurers set out to explore the Wildbase Recovery Centre in April and were given a special tour of the centre. Brittany from Wildbase showed the team through the centre pointing out some unique features, from the Special pest proof walls around the centre to the baby Pāteke which are part of a national breeding programme (and incredibly cute). The centre focuses on rehabilitating native birds which have been injured and have been to the wildbase hospital. The centre aims to release the birds back into the wild once they have fully recoverd. On the day, there were three Kererū, one kahu and a little blue penguin recovering at the centre. The team learnt that 40% of kererū which come through the centre have been hurt during window strike (where they hit a window in a house or vehicle). Some animals are unable to be released back into the wild so live at the centre permanently (There was a kererū, bellbird, whio and 4 tuatara there on the day). Manawatū KCC members were also lucky enough to see a juvenile kiwi in the operating theater. The kiwi was part of a study through Massey University, looking into treatments for coccidiosis (a parasitic disease which affects kiwi). Manawatū KCC are so grateful to Wildbase for providing this special tour for them. The centre is free to enter for the public and is a fantastic place to visit if you are ever in Palmerston North.
