Wildbase Hospital – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:19:31 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Wildbase Hospital – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Model Owl in a Towel https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/ https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/#respond Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4608 A Ruru / Morepork is an exemplary owl in a towel, wrapped in plain white fabric like a burrito, except instead of rice, beans and salad you get a live bird. His/her eyes are the colour of rich amber, looking alert and slightly left of camera. Feathers are brown like a medium roast coffee, with accents of cream and caramel around the forehead and chest. Reflected in the owl's pupils are a trio of ceiling lights: bands of light that narrow with perspective and appear arched due to the curvature of the owl's eyes, which altogether makes them look like WiFi symbols 🛜v🛜.

Original post – 24 Aug 2026
by Wildbase Hospital

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

Original text:

One lucky ruru!🦉
This ruru was admitted to Wildbase Hospital from Hunterville after a window collision. Thankfully, no major injuries were found. After just 10 days of treatment, this patient is already ready to begin building flight fitness as it continues its rehabilitation.
We’re hopeful it won’t be long before this beautiful manu is ready to return to the wild. 💚

For those willing and able, please click the following link to donate to Wildbase Hospital and select Wildbase Research Fund under Designation.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/feed/ 0 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 Happy Owloween! https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/ https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2404 It’s the 31st of Owltober and we’ve saved one of the best for last: A Ruru Owl looking especially bedraggled after a bath (for a skin condition). Having spent a few hours under the blow dryer, the before and after pics are night and day…

A Ruru Owl is thoroughly bedraggled, wrapped in a blue towel after a bath. His cat-like eyes are fixed on the camera, wide and yellow. Feathers around the chest are matted and parted to expose skin that looks like, well... uncooked chicken breast. Green plastic boxes appear on a concrete slab behind.

Original post – 31 Mar 2021
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital:

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

Original text:

Wet Wednesday all round for us in Palmerston North!!🤣

This morepork is with us for rehabilitation but we found it had scurfy/flaky skin. A sticky tape sample revealed a lot of cocci (bacteria), so today this ruru had a bubble bath (which he was NOT pleased about😅).

A full body shot of the wet owl, sans towel. His Sid Vicious plumage is blackened by the wetness, and some barbs are stuck to the the feather shafts, creating gaps in the wings that look like see-through ribs. The photo really is something: imagine a yellow-eyed Koosh ball on a swivel, sticking out from a tarred turkey carcass. A truly bizarre and sorry-looking creature, but if it's any assurance the owl is fine. His legs are bowed with tan-feathered toes splayed out below. He stands upon a white net inside a green plastic box, with wooden perches around the edge.
Another angle of this Cronenbergian horror with Disney eyes. The owl's leg stance is sturdier, and if you ignore the whole looking-like-a-drowned-abomination thing, he's far more photogenic and you know what? Kinda badass. Like a character-select screen in an RPG. What's interesting is we don't often see the shape of an owl's neck, because the head feathers typically merge into the shoulder like a lumpy snowman. But here, with all the feathers matted and shrink-wrapped to the owl's bone structure, he appears almost humanoid.

We washed him with Chlorhexidine to deal to the bacteria, then rinsed clean. This is a similar technique we use for oiled birds and have the set up to do it.

After a few hours under the blow dryers he is looking spiffy and ready to try out his clean feathers and skin back in our rehab aviaries at Wildbase Recovery with the hopes of releasing soon🤞

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link


P.S. We have a calendar for the 31 days of Owltober!

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/feed/ 0 Ruru Rescue Rehab Release https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/ https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/#respond Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1996 A Ruru with chocolate brown feathers and amber eyes is wrapped in an alabaster-cream towel during a routine health check. He is held by a rehabilitator sporting a pair of purple medical gloves. Only the owl's head is visible, in sharp focus against a soft indiscernible background. One of his eyes is more dilated than the other... ovO

Original post – 28 Oct 2024
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital

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


A Ruru Morepork was found in Hokowhitu with a wound to the back of his neck from a predator attack, likely a cat or stoat (which are both introduced species in New Zealand). He was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories by the team at Wildbase Hospital. After plenty of cage rest, he was able to work on flight fitness at the Circular Flight Aviary and vets were able to assess his vision.

Update 11 Nov 2024:

Ruru Hokowhitu has been released back to the wild!

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/feed/ 0 Ruru Recovers from Window Strike https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-recovers-from-window-strike/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:49 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1527 An alert Ruru Owl with bright yellow eyes looks squarely at the camera while wrapped in a lavender towel held by a rehabilitator / staff member at Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North, NZ. The photo appears to be taken outdoors, with one side of the patient bathed in more sunlight than the other, resulting in a slightly uneven dilation of its pupils, like an emoji with the letter O for eyes in uppercase and lowercase: 'O v o'

Original post – 01 Feb 2020
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital

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

Original text:

This Ruru Morepork is named ‘Shannon’ after the area it was found in the Horowhenua District.

It was taken to Wildbase Hospital where it was treated for head trauma (bleeding in its ear canal), issues with its right leg and carpal swelling after flying into a window. It was placed on cage rest with pain medication and tasty kai [food]. It was a resident at Wildbase to work on its flight strength and silent flight before release.

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> 2+ Decades of Wildlife Care https://owlsintowels.org/2-plus-decades-of-wildlife-care/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1521

Original post – 13 Mar 2024
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in association with Wildbase Hospital

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

Extract from the Massey University news article:

Since being established in 2002, Wildbase’s ongoing mission has been to provide vital treatment and support to sick and injured native wildlife, administering medical and surgical care to enable the animals’ full recovery and safe return to the wild.

These efforts have seen the team care for wildlife spanning various categories of national conservation concern, exemplifying Wildbase’s steadfast commitment to preserving New Zealand’s unique biodiversity. As Aotearoa faces one of the highest proportions of native species facing extinction, their work continues to be of utmost importance.

After more than two decades since their doors opened, Wildbase’s patient summary includes 6471 birds, 281 reptiles and 23 bats. Of these, 571 patients were from endangered species and 1670 were from threatened species, with a total of 138 different wildlife species having come through their doors so far. Each of the 110 bird species, 25 reptile species, two bat species and one amphibian species required unique nutrition, physiology and habitat needs which the Wildbase team ensured were met.

…

Their avian patients have included a number of nationally critical birds, which are the species facing the highest risk of extinction, including the tūturuatu (shore plover), kākāpō, matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern), Salvin’s and Antipodean albatross, kakariki karaka (orange-fronted parakeet) and kōtuku (white heron). The team have also cared for a range of nationally endangered birds, including hoiho yellow-eyed penguins, rowi (Okarito brown kiwi), kea and masked booby, with common nationally vulnerable patients including takahē and whio (blue duck).

Of all the bird species, the most frequent flyer award goes to the kereru or the New Zealand wood pigeon, of which 1099 received care at the hospital, followed by kāhu (swamp harrier) at 870 patients then pararā (broad-billed prions) at 607 patients, kiwi-nui (North Island brown kiwi) at 525, tūī (523), ruru morepork (352) and kōtare (kingfishers) rounding it out at 344 patients.

Professor Gartrell says reflecting back on the hospital’s successes over the past two decades confirms that Wildbase has remained steadfast to its mission and will continue to do so in the coming years.

“As we celebrate 21 years of Wildbase, it’s incredible to look back and see how much we have been able to achieve. Our efforts and our commitment have only strengthened, and we will continue this vital work of providing critical care, ongoing research and education initiatives to help safeguard our nation’s living taonga [treasures] for generations to come.”

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> Tiny Talons from Turakina https://owlsintowels.org/tiny-talons-from-turakina/ https://owlsintowels.org/tiny-talons-from-turakina/#respond Sat, 11 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=720

Original post – 14 Jul 2022
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in association with Wildbase Hospital

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

Original text:

Last week we admitted this patient into our care from the team at Wildbase Hospital.

…a ruru/morepork found in Turakina [in the Whanganui region] who was treated for head trauma, ulcers in both eyes and necrosis to the right retina. This ruru is being assessed to make sure the damage to the retina is not affecting the bird’s vision. This ruru will be on display in our Ground Dweller aviary where our technicians have added in plenty of cover and browse for the ruru to hide in.

Update: This ruru was released on 8 Sep 2022 back in Turakina.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Wildbase Recovery 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/tiny-talons-from-turakina/feed/ 0 Ruru Assessed for Vision https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-assessed-for-vision/ https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-assessed-for-vision/#respond Sat, 11 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=761

Original post – 06 Jun 2022
by Wildbase Recovery

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

in association with Wildbase Hospital

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

Original text:

Last week we admitted a ruru/morepork who was found up Summerhill (near Palmerston North) and was suspected to have suffered some kind of head trauma and damage to its left eye.

This ruru is only here for a short stay as the wildlife technicians are helping the vets at Wildbase hospital assess whether or not the ruru has regained some vision back in the left eye.

As to whether this little ruru will be on display — being a nocturnal species we cannot guarantee that it will be visible but if you ask one of our team we might be able to find its hiding spot for you.

You can help fund Wildbase Recovery at the following DONATION LINK

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-assessed-for-vision/feed/ 0