Wildbase Hospital , Hōhipera ki Te Whakahaumanu

Wildbase Hospital treats some of the most vulnerable wildlife on the planet. Our patients are rare and endangered native birds, reptiles and bats from all over Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you find injured or sick native wildlife, contact us for help and advice.

How to get help for injured wildlife

If you find a sick or injured animal in the wild, it's important to know who to call for help. Find out whether you should contact us, the Department of Conservation, the SPCA or your local vet.

Birds and reptiles

Follow these steps to decide if you need to find help for a bird or reptile.

1, Is it injured and does it need help?

No – enjoy watching it from a distance.

Not sure – watch it for a minute. If it is a baby bird on the ground, are the parents looking after it? If yes, leave the bird alone. Is it in danger from cats, dogs, cars, people or another hazard? If yes, go to the next question.

Yes – there are obvious signs of distress or injury, such as bleeding. Go to the next step.

2, Is it a native animal?

Nocall the SPCA or take the animal to your local vet.

Not sure – check online to try and identify the animal, such as on New Zealand Birds Online, or contact us for advice.

Yes – if you're able to catch the animal, contact us. If you can't catch it, call the Department of Conservation (DOC) emergency hotline: 0800 362 468

Marine mammals

If you find a marine mammal you are concerned about, call the Department of Conservation on 0800 362 468 (0800 DOCHOT).

Other native species

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for dealing with injured native animals throughout New Zealand.

See DOC's sick or injured wildlife advice

If you call DOC or bring an animal to us, there is no cost.

Non-native species

If you have non-native injured wildlife that needs to be seen, contact the SPCA first. If they are not able to help, seek advice from your local vet.

Contact the SPCA Palmerston North: +64 6 357 2516

Go to the SPCA website to find an SPCA near you

About Wildbase Hospital

Wildbase Hospital is dedicated to caring for sick and injured native wildlife, providing medical and surgical care before returning the animals back to the wild.

Our national wildlife hospital is based at Massey University's Manawatū campus in Palmerston North. We work closely with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, but are based in our own facility.

Animals who are successfully treated and likely to be released back to the wild will be transferred to Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North for rehabilitation.

Find out more about Wildbase Recovery

Wildbase Hospital also treats pet birds and reptiles through Massey's Companion Animal Hospital

Saving endangered wildlife

Our patients are native birds, reptiles and occasionally bats. We see around 400 wildlife patients each year, of which approximately half are threatened or endangered species, and on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in New Zealand

Some of the groups we work with include:

  • the Department of Conservation
  • captive wildlife institutions
  • species recovery programmes.

Conservation

Wildbase's mission is to provide veterinary and scientific services in support of New Zealand conservation. This includes monitoring and protecting the health and welfare of our most endangered species, including all IUCN Red Listed species in New Zealand.

We are contributing significantly to the conservation of New Zealand’s rarest species. For instance Wildbase Hospital has supported the Kākāpō Recovery programme by providing auxiliary diagnostic support. In 2019, we saw 15 kākāpō as part of this programme – a whopping seven per cent of the total population.

Other rare native birds we see include:

  • tūturuatu/shore plover
  • takahē
  • Rowi kiwi
  • kākāriki karaka/orange fronted parakeet.

Read the Wildbase Strategy Policy 2022 to find out more about our mission

Expertise

Academic veterinarians

Wildbase Hospital is staffed by academic avian veterinarians from Massey's Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science. We assist in the clinical training of Massey veterinary students, international students, veterinarians from around New Zealand, and postgraduate veterinarians.

Professor Brett Gartrell

Professor Brett Gartrell

He/Him
BVSc, Phd, MANZCVS (Avian Health)
Group Leader of Wildbase and a Director of the Wildbase Research Centre

Brett is an avian and wildlife veterinarian with research interests in wildlife health issues, particularly as they affect the conservation of New Zealand native species. In particular, his research has focused on wildlife disease ecology and ecotoxicology at population levels and the physiological impacts of conservation management on individual animal health.

Dr Megan Jolly

Dr Megan Jolly

She/Her
BRSc BVSc MVSc PhD MANZCVS (Avian Health)
Senior Practicing Veterinarian

Megan is an avian veterinarian with research interests in avian anatomy, reproduction and individual bird health. Megan overseas the operations of the Wildbase Hospital, treating New Zealand free-living and captive wildlife as well as pet birds and reptiles.

Wildbase residents

The hospital is a respected teaching and research facility that provides hands-on training in wildlife medicine and husbandry to postgraduate veterinarians. The program works with Wellington Zoo to offer a Masterate in Zoo and Wildlife Health.

Dr Vivian Lee

Dr Vivian Lee

She/Her
DVM
Resident Veterinarian – Wildlife and Zoo Health

Vivian was born and raised in tropical Malaysia, where her love for wildlife, conservation and sustainability was cultivated. She jumped at the opportunity to work with New Zealand’s unique wildlife and has not looked back since. When not on duty at the clinic, she is currently working on her master’s research into post-mortem lesions of bycaught Hector’s and Māui dolphins.

Dr Maddie Lloyd

Dr Maddie Lloyd

She/Her
BVSc
Veterinary Resident

Maddie grew up in Auckland before moving to Palmerston North to study Veterinary Science. During her undergraduate degree she developed an interest in avian medicine and surgery, which led her to pursue a residency in wildlife and zoo medicine at Wildbase. Before her residency she worked for 18 months in general practice in Wellington. Her areas of interest include seabirds and surgery.

Dr Tori Turner

Dr Tori Turner

Māori/Pākehā
He/Him
BVSc
Resident Veterinarian – Wildlife and Zoo Animal Health

Tori comes from a small North Taranaki town, between Mt Taranaki and its black sand shores. Growing up surrounded by native bush and learning about the connection of Māori to the land from his father, he built a passion for the environment and the animals that occupy it. He graduated from Massey University's BVSc in 2017 and is studying to become a kaitiaki (guardian) of our national treasures.

Dr Ashley Whitehead

Dr Ashley Whitehead

She/Her
BA, DVM
Resident Veterinarian—Wildlife and Zoo Animal Health

Originally hailing from the mangrove-studded shores of central Florida, Ashley developed a passion for conservation at a young age and is particularly fond of coastal ecosystems and their animal inhabitants. In order to foster this love, she pursued a career in veterinary medicine with the dream of taking a more active role in the protection of wildlife.

Wildbase Hospital technicians

Wildbase Hospital is also staffed by a team of wildlife technicians from Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science.

 Kahukura Bennett

Kahukura Bennett

Māori/Pākehā
She/Her
Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, DVN
Wildlife Technician

Kahu completed her veterinary nursing studies at the end of 2021 and began working at Wildbase soon after. She has a strong interest in animal behaviour, husbandry and conservation, making Wildbase a very exciting and stimulating place to work.

 Bernadette Monaghan-Vowles

Bernadette Monaghan-Vowles

She/Her
Certificate in veterinary Care and Certificate in Animal care.
Veterinary care assistant wildlife

Bernadette is a vital component of the Wildbase hospital, keeping all the patients fed and the cupboards stocked.

 Cailin Murray

Cailin Murray

She/Her
BVT
Wildbase Hospital Technician

Cailin graduated in 2019 and began working as a Wildlife Technician at the Wildbase Hospital, expanding her knowledge and passing it on to veterinary and vet tech students that come through the hospital. She loves working with New Zealand's unusual and quirky wildlife and sharing her love with colleagues and the public.

 Chelsea Parson

Chelsea Parson

She/Her
DipVN
Wildlife Technician

Supporters

Shell New Zealand – Gold Conservation Partner

Shell New Zealand has been a proud conservation partner of Wildbase since its inception (as the New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre) in 2001. Their support allows us to continue to deliver vital care to New Zealand’s sick and injured native wildlife, making a significant contribution to conservation.

DOC Wildlife Institutions Relief Fund

Wildbase would like to acknowledge the Department Of Conservation Wildlife Institutions Relief fund for their funding support.

Learn more

Palmerston North Airport

Palmerston North Airport Ltd provided Wildbase with our vehicle, used for patient transport and fieldwork, and is an important part of getting us and our patients to the places we need to be.

How you can help

You can support the work we do at Wildbase by donating to the Wildbase Research Fund via the Massey University Foundation.

The teaching and research carried out by Wildbase is important to conservation in New Zealand and around the world.

All funds donated will be used to support postgraduate research.

To donate click on the link and select Wildbase Research Fund under Designation.

Wildlife casebook

See examples of some of the wildlife we have worked with.

Ruru/morepork

A wild ruru / morepork was treated at Massey University's Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North for a broken wing.

Ruru at the wildbase hospital Ruru at the wildbase hospital Ruru at the wildbase hospital Ruru at the wildbase hospital

White-capped albatross

A lost and injured albatross swept in by a storm was rescued by a farmer and brought to Wildbase Hospital at Massey.

North Island Brown Kiwi

A little kiwi arrived at Wildbase Hospital at Massey for assessment and treatment after losing too much weight.

Kiwi at wildbase hospital Kiwi at wildbase hospital Kiwi at wildbase hospital Kiwi at wildbase hospital

Contact us about sick or injured native wildlife

Wildbase

Freephone