Mollymawk set free after three weeks' care

Otago Daily Times

22-05-2025

A Buller's mollymawk is taken aboard MV Sootychaser by Dunedin Wildlife Hospital wildlife veterinarian Emma Chen (left) and skipper and Port to Port Cruises and Wildlife Tours owner Rachel McGregor yesterday afternoon. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON
After three weeks in hospital care, a Buller's mollymawk was released 1km out to sea off Dunedin's coast yesterday.
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital wildlife veterinarian Emma Chen said the small albatross hopped into the water and quickly swam away from MV Sootychaser.
After about a minute the bird started to paddle with its feet to build up speed, then started to "flap real hard" and eventually flew away.
The mollymawk, believed to be a male due to its large size, came into care on April 30 after being found in Andersons Bay "in an inappropriate location", Miss Chen said.
The mollymawk eyes the open ocean after three weeks in hospital care.
With a 2m to 2.5m wingspan, it was underweight at 2.37kg.
It also had a historic soft tissue injury to the bottom of its chin.
It was suspected inclement autumn weather had blown the bird off course.
Mollymawks could use water as a sort of "runway", or they could launch off a cliff such as at Taiaroa Head, but the bird would not have been able to take flight from the Dunedin suburb it was found in, she said.
The mollymawk stretches its wings after being released.
It spent three weeks in hospital putting on weight, preening and sorting its feathers out, and waterproofing in the hospital's rehabilitation pool, where it swam for three to five hours each day, Miss Chen said.
The mollymawk was also fed a variety of fish and gained more than 1kg while in care, tipping the scales at 3.45kg upon its release.