Penguins die from mystery illness at Gold Coast
March 14, 2007
Penns forwarded this article to me while i was out at lunch. So tragic! THe other 12 Pingus must have been devastated seeing their friends and family drop like flies.
Which reminds me, i want to watch the March of the Penguins, got to find someone with the DVD.
12:15PM Wednesday March 14, 2007
BRISBANE - More than two dozen penguins have died at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast.The penguins became ill on Thursday last week and, by the weekend, 25 of the 37 sick birds were dead, Sea World said in a statement.
The surviving penguins had been isolated while vets continued their investigations into the cause of the deaths.
But Department of Primary Industries general manager of animal biosecurity Ron Glanville said today disease had been ruled out.
“We don’t believe there is any other threat to animals at Sea World at this stage,” he told ABC Radio.
“It does not appear to be an infectious cause that is going on so we don’t believe there is a problem in terms of a threat to other animals or the public.”
Sea World’s manager of marine sciences Steve McCourt told the Courier-Mail newspaper today he suspected the deaths were caused by a load of contaminated gravel placed in the bird’s enclosure as part of three-monthly maintenance.
“All the staff here are absolutely devastated about this,” Mr McCourt said.
“We think there is some sort of toxin in the gravel.”
Sea World first took samples to a private laboratory and then called in personnel from the newly-established Biosecurity Queensland, which worked on Monday night to clear up fears of bird flu.
Biosecurity Queensland principal veterinary officer Ian Douglas said tests for bird flu were negative.
“It’s a bit too early to speculate what’s happened,” he said.“But in the veterinary world, it’s not unusual to get a large number of animals affected at the one time.
“If one is exposed to a toxin then often they all are and you get large crashes.”
Dr Douglas said he had never seen a similar occurrence with penguins.
- AAP
posted in Clips |
this is so not Happy Feet !!!
Comment by IwantaTibike — March 14, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
aww.
my heart breaks everytime i hear animals die of something in which we humans play a part in contributing to their death.
i loved the penguins in GC’s seaworld as well.
Comment by 'kristin — March 14, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
You know March of The Penguins, i was hessitant at first, but i watched it on a plane back from perth the last time. It was surprisingly interesting!! No doubt morgan freeman’s voice adds a lil pizazz to it! hehe…must watch!
Comment by gizmoe — March 14, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Hi, I chanced upon here. I remembered I watched March of the Penguins because my lecturer recommended it. And also cos she just came back from Antartic to see the peguins! You shld watch, will be fascinated! =)
Comment by yanz — March 14, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
there’s none more selfish than humans (me included).
but i’m doing my part, albeit in small ways.
Comment by Canterbury Soul — March 15, 2007 @ 12:25 am
yes should watch March of the Penguins. it’s done up so beautifully, with perfect story-telling script and whimsical soundtrack
Comment by anon — March 15, 2007 @ 11:39 am
iwantaTibike: not happy feet at all!!!!
kristin: i guess it’s hard to take sides. Zoos DO educate people about the wildlife, but on the other hand, documentaries do the same. I’m not an ACREs volunteer, because to a certain extent, zoos do house abandoned baby animals, or help in conservation work.
gizmoe: i reallly wanted to watch it when it came out… but missed it on the cinemas when i finally got the time.
yanz: will do. i’m sure if your lecturer says its good, its good.
canterbury soul: true, as indivudual as much as you think it doesnt make a difference, i believe it does.
anon: will give you a review!
Comment by Angela — March 15, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
A bit off topic but related in someway… Thank god Singapore is sending back its Polar Bears. Poor guys are in such a small enclosure. I don’t mind not seeing them live and in the flesh as long as they’re back to their own climate and somewhere they are more suited for.
Comment by Waynep — March 15, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
wayne:i dont know if they approved that….. but for the polar bear, i agree, that enclosure is too small. But the problem they will face is the stress the bears will have to undergo during transfer. And they definately can’t be put back into the wild… i think the baby, called anuka or something right? was born in captivity……. they can only be put in another zoo i think…..
Comment by Angela — March 16, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Inuka is now a teenage polar bear or perhaps an bear by their standard. And Inuka was born right in our zoo which means he ‘holds a pink ic’! Hahaha!
According to paper reports recently, Inuka will be transfered to another zoo when his mother (i think its Sheeba) passes away.
Comment by Chloe — March 19, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Chloe: i hope Inuka can adapt to the new place….. i reckon the enclosure should be much much bigger, and cooler. It’s really too small at the moment..
Comment by Angela — March 21, 2007 @ 9:45 am