AUCKLAND, New Zealand (5 May 2008) — An albatross has just undergone rare decompression chamber treatment similar to that used by sick divers at Devonport's Navy Hospital after a dramatic sea rescue off the Western Bay coast. The 7kg bird - named Al by his fisherman rescuers - was saved from a grim fate after being found injured off Matata. That rescue was on April 20 - but now Al has had intensive oxygen therapy treatment at Holistic Veterinary Services in Tauranga after Dr Liza Schneider discovered the seabird had major swelling and bruising and significant nerve damage to one wing. Breathing oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure causes oxygen to be dissolved in blood plasma and increases its availability to body tissues and cells. The Veterinary Hyperbaric Unit chamber used to treat the huge seabird was bought by the Tauranga clinic late last year and is believed to be only one of two in the Southern Hemisphere. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy promotes rapid healing - possibly up to 15 times faster - as the animal breathes pure oxygen while locked inside the chamber for a period of 1 1/2 hours. Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Dave Wills said Al appeared to be a juvenile bird, possibly about 2-4 years in age but to discover Al's sex would be an invasive and unnecessary process. The bird may have made a bad judgment call and with a possible wingspan of about 3m, flown into something, injuring the wing. Al has been taken in by a bird carer, whose main task has been to feed the protected seabird _ 500g servings of squid and fish, some of which is donated by Tauranga company Sanford Seafoods. | | Al the albatross is treated at Holistic Veterinary Services to aid recovery from a wing injury. Since his rescue, Al has undergone three decompression treatments and this weekend the supportive bandage Dr Schneider wrapped around Al's wing will be removed to assess recovery. Al is likely to be taken to either Auckland Zoo or The New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre at Massey University to make a full recovery before being released back into the wild. In 2003 Dr Schneider started an Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC) and, offering voluntary vet expertise, works closely with DOC and Tauranga SPCA in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. "It's been a huge help to us since ARRC has started," said Mr Wills. |
