Patients at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital

A kea is weighed in at the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin. Two kea have been treated since the Hospital opened in January 2018, one with lead poisoning and one with a concussion. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla

Dr. Lisa Argilla performs surgery on a yellow-eyed penguin. Photo: Murdo McLeod

Dr. Lisa Argilla analyses a yellow-eyed penguin x-ray. Photo: Murdo McLeod

This harrier hawk, or kahu, was being treated for lead poisoning. The bandages protect the harrier's feet from being pierced by its own talons, a neurological reaction to the lead in its bloodstream. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

An erect-crested penguin is held by Senior Wildlife Vet Nurse Angelina Martelli in preparation for feeding. The Wildlife Hospital Dunedin has treated several erect-crested penguins this year, some of which were attacked by dogs while moulting. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A Haast tokoeka (kiwi) is treated for an infection at the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin, one of six seen by the hospital this year . This kiwi lives at Orokonui Eco Sanctuary in Dunedin. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

An x-ray of a Haast kiwi. Note the location transmitter attached to its leg. Photo: Wildlife Hospital Dunedin.

A yellow-eyed penguin receives a blood transfusion at the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A juvenile kereru, or native NZ pigeon, sparked a lively debate on the Wildlife Hospital's Facebook page - cute or ugly? Kereru are the second most common species treated at the Hospital in 2018. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

An x-ray of a kereru. Photo: Wildlife Hospital Dunedin.

A kereru receives treatment in one of the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin's ICU incubators, as well as medication from a syringe driver. Both pieces of equipment were donated by individuals who support our work: a vet who ran the Christchurch marathon to raise money for us, and a woman who used the donation as a memorial to her late mother. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A sooty shearwater brought in from the Dunedin city centre, where it had become grounded.

A tui is sedated prior to being x-rayed. The Otago Community Trust donated a state-of-the-art digital x-ray machine to assist with our operations. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A yellow-eyed penguin patient indicates it is time to clean its cage and provide fresh towels. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla

Yellow-eyed penguins compare notes on their stays at the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin. More than 70 of these endangered penguins have been treated in Hospital in 6 months. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A kingfisher is sedated for x-ray. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

A kaka perches on a piece of native wood while snacking. The kaka in Hospital this year have been our most mischievous patients. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.

Senior Wildlife Vet Nurse Angelina Martelli x-rays a kea at the Wildlife Hospital Dunedin. Photo: Dr. Lisa Argilla.