Wellington Zoo – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:34:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Wellington Zoo – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 What a Transformation https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/ https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3343 An intense stare from this young yellow-eyed Ruru in a blue towel tells us he has seen Some Stuff.

Photo SHANNA ROSE, Team Leader at The Nest Te Kōhanga

This resilient Ruru / Morepork was carefully treated for flaky skin and readied for release back to where he was found, thanks to brilliant work and coordination between Wellington Zoo and Wildbase Recovery.

Original post – 28 Apr 2021
by The Nest Te Kōhanga at Wellington Zoo

located in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

in coordination with Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

and Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook



Original text by Wellington Zoo:

It’s an exciting afternoon for our Vet team at The Nest Te Kōhanga as we prepare to release this gorgeous Ruru back to the wild!
You may remember this wee face as this Ruru recently became an internet sensation after needing to have a special bath at Wildbase to clear some flaky skin.

A grid of four shots of the Ruru after a bath, looking thoroughly bedraggled in a blue towel. His Sid Vicious plumage is blackened by the wetness, and parted on the chest to expose skin like uncooked turkey. Feathers are matted and shrink-wrapped to his bone structure, and yet he's still cute as a button. A Cronenbergian horror with Disney eyes. The final panel shows him post-blow-dry and resuming his original puffy shape, like a feathery butternut squash.

Photos Wildbase Recovery

This little manu [flying creature] first came into our care as a nestling on Boxing Day after he was found on the ground with wounds on his feet and he had a fractured wing tip. The Ruru responded well to treatments and supportive care and headed off to our friends at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery earlier in January, where he could be with a group of other baby Ruru.

Fluffy and at ease, the Ruru is perched on a branch in an indoor aviary, casting a shadow on the white wall behind. His chest plumage is mesmerising - wavy lines in tones of cream, tan, and roasted coffee brown. He's looking MUCH better, ready for release.

Photo SHANNA ROSE, Team Leader at The Nest Te Kōhanga

The Ruru is now considered to be a sub-adult and he’s ready to spread his wings! Our Vet team will be heading out to Eastbourne this afternoon, where he was originally found, and they’ll be releasing him at dusk.

Links to donate (for those willing and able):

Donate to Wellington Zoo
Donate to Wildbase Recovery
Donate to Wildbase Hospital

NB: If donating to Wildbase Hospital, click the link and select Wildbase Research Fund under Designation.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/feed/ 0 Owl in a Bowl https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/ https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/#respond Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1962

Ruru Morepork having a relaxing recovery

Original post – 20 Jan 2015
by Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

located in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Our vets in the Nest Te Kōhanga have cared for a Morepork (Ruru) chick for the last two months, and now he has his adult feathers it’s time for him to venture out into the big wide world. This native youngster will be released in two stages. He’s gone to HUHA (Helping You Help Animals) for his ‘soft release’ – two weeks in an aviary with a lamp outside to attract moths for him to practise hunting. Then the door will be opened so he can fly away and hunt for himself, but still come back for food if he needs.

This is the same owl in the same bowl, but many weeks prior. Its juvenile white fluffy down feathers are much more conspicuous in this picture, making its tiny head poking out from the towel appear grey and floofy. The scale reads 175.59. Presumably the unit is grams. It is not clear if the combined tare weight (of the tea towel and bowl) has been brought into account.
Another angle of the burritowl
The same owl wrapped like a burrito, no longer in its bowl... it is likely being transferred either to or from said bowl. The vet staff is behind the owl, mostly out of frame wearing a red tee bearing the zoo logo.

Link to donate to Wellington Zoo for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/feed/ 0 Ruru for Feb-ruru-ary https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-burrito-for-feb-ruru-ary/ https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-burrito-for-feb-ruru-ary/#respond Mon, 27 Feb 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=122

Original post – 30 Aug 2019
by Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

located in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

This beautiful wee Ruru was brought to us yesterday by a member of the community. The bird was possibly hit by a car and unfortunately has a broken wing.

Today our Vet team at The Nest Te Kōhanga did a general health check on the Ruru and tomorrow we’re hoping to do surgery on the broken right wing.

It’s still early days for this wee bird, but hopefully he improves so we can rehabilitate and release him back to the wild! 🤞

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Wellington Zoo at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-burrito-for-feb-ruru-ary/feed/ 0