Penguin rescue

Ruth and Andre Whitton found themselves transformed into wildlife rescuers on the weekend.
The couple found a small penguin washed up on the beach at Forrest Caves.

“At first we thought he was dead – then he moved,” said Ruth.
The couple quickly contacted the Phillip Island Nature Parks, who asked them to bring the penguin to the Nobbies Centre.

“We picked him up, receiving a nice pecking for our trouble and popped him inside my down jacket,” said Ruth.
“He snuggled in very happily.”

At the Nature Parks’ wildlife clinic, rangers assessed and weighed the little penguin and said he was underweight. He’ll be fed and monitored by staff at the clinic and then released back into the wild.
His rescuers were overjoyed with the result.

“He pooped in my jacket, but it was worth it!” Ruth said.