RIAS – Center for the Recovery and Research of Wild Animals, rescued, recovered and returned to nature “its” first puffin (fratercula arctica), announced the center based in Quinta de Marim, headquarters of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
The first puffin specimen ever recovered by RIAS was rescued at the beginning of May, after being found on Ilha Deserta “very weak, with frayed feathers and an oil stain on its belly”.
“Once the diagnosis was complete, we started the established protocol for emaciated seabirds – a process that includes, among others, administration of fluids (subcutaneous, intravenous and/or oral) according to their condition. To know which measures to apply, we always take into account different criteria related to weight and blood values», describes the center.
“After all the stress of the rescue and the physical exam, we let him rest overnight. The days that followed were focused on the protocol we mentioned earlier, until he was strong enough and we decided to try giving him fish. To our surprise, it was with great appetite that he devoured everything we gave him », he says.
In the following days, and after «already fully stabilized», the bird was placed «in a small outdoor pool, with access to a dry place, in order to recover its impermeability, so important for a seabird. At night, it was collected inside so as not to be susceptible to low temperatures».
«Shortly afterwards, it was permanently transferred to an outdoor facility, a larger pool, even with access to a board, which was gradually removed», adds RIAS.
It was in this space that he stayed, «until he was finally released in the area where he was rescued, Ilha Deserta».
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