Museum Notes

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22501, 8 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Museum Notes

During the winter months some sadly bedraggled penguins have been found on various beaches and brought to the museum for cleaning. ft had been their misfortune to strike patches of waste oil which had bpep discharged from ships. This oily waste is thick and black, and when it comes into contact with

the feathers it causes them to her pome matted and useless. In the ordinary way the bird’s leathers Keep its body bpth warm and dry, and ©nee the oil has done its work the bird is likely to patch a obill and die of cold. It is also bandit capped in its efforts to find food, and is likely to starve. If they are any distance from the shore the bird? may die, but if they are near enough to a beach they come out and try to clean themselves. This is quite hopeless, as the oil is simply moved from one part of the feathers and smeared on to another.

CLEANING PENGUINS

(Bp R. A. Falla)

The first two victims to be treated at the museum were b)g-crested penguins, and they sypyived the ordeal and went off to sea ouite happily. More recently a little Wliffe-flippered penguin, in a much wopee state, was also cleaned, but it died on the following day. If the off is not tpp thick warm water and soap may be successfully used. If this is not effective it is

neoegsary td apply benzine, and there is some danger of the fumes affecting the bird. When they are cleaned the penguins are not immediately ready to take to the water, but must be allowed to preen tbeir feathers for some hours to get them back into glossy condition with the natural oil obtained from glands near the tail. Jt is hoped that in the near future some means may be devised whereby ships can dispose of waste oil in some other way than by discharging it at sea where it becomes a menace not only to sea-birds, but also to fish and other marine life.