---
title: "UPDATED.  A Gibson’s Antipodean Albatross gets released after a few good meals"
---

# UPDATED.  A Gibson’s Antipodean Albatross gets released after a few good meals

![Antipodean release Kaikoura 1](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Antipodean_release_Kaikoura_1.jpg)

 *The young Antipodean Albatross spreads its wings after release, photograph by  *Dan Burgin, Wildlife Management International (WMIL)**

 A young Antipodean Albatross *Diomedea antipodensis* assigned to the*gibsoni* subspecies was brought in by the crew two days after landing aboard the fishing vessel *Santa Rosa* off the West Coast to the [EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre](https://www.facebook.com/EcoWorldPicton/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUfowczgQOwSWfdsApr4ew2ewUKZpegcvZVAVq83wb4qhytjVQ2DnABi5RHScZJLUNE-EtJO2ksyTvtBoKucU6X1hR35rua1_QDqVPXT2dhsRP0_o9-JSq4yii63r_jirsKnGrzQXa9A505Cx9XLtCI&__tn__=kK-R) in Picton, South Island, New Zealand.  Mike Bell of Wildlife Management International ([WMIL](https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemgmtnz)) states on the Centre's Facebook page: “She is a young female albatross from this years breeding season. She was obviously very lethargic and weighed only 4.9 kg when she should be at about 7 kg in weight”.  Affectionately named Rosa, the albatross spent three weeks in captivity while it got back to a healthy weight, being fed on donated salmon and squid.  Following banding, the albatross was released on 29 March out at sea off the coast of Kaikoura from an[Albatross Encounter Kaikoura](https://www.facebook.com/AlbatrossEncounter/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUfowczgQOwSWfdsApr4ew2ewUKZpegcvZVAVq83wb4qhytjVQ2DnABi5RHScZJLUNE-EtJO2ksyTvtBoKucU6X1hR35rua1_QDqVPXT2dhsRP0_o9-JSq4yii63r_jirsKnGrzQXa9A505Cx9XLtCI&__tn__=kK-R)tour vessel by Mike Bell and Dan Burgin of WMIL.

  ![Antipodean release Kaikoura 4](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Antipodean_release_Kaikoura_4.jpg)

 Ecoworld biologist Sarah Nooy holds Rosa, the young Antipodean Albatross (right)

  ![Ecoworld biologist Sarah Nooy with Rosa the juvenile Gibsons Albatross](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Ecoworld_biologist_Sarah_Nooy_with_Rosa_the_juvenile_Gibsons_Albatross.jpg)

 According to Wildlife Management International’s [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemgmtnz/) the [globally Endangered](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/antipodean-albatross-diomedea-antipodensis) and [Nationally Critical](http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/antipodean-albatross) bird “spent a good amount of time bathing before swimming off.  Here’s hoping we get a band resighting at her breeding colony in years to come, but she has a long way to go still facing a myriad of threats out at sea.”  Read more [here](https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/124716232/big-bird-saved-by-amazing-community-team-effort?fbclid=IwAR25b49fe3h6kU6v1FIDtWHaIXbaf2l5u25X-VblUZlRjKX925Ps1vq3BiQ).

 [https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemgmtnz/](https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemgmtnz/)![Antipodean release Kaikoura 2](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Antipodean_release_Kaikoura_2.jpg)

 ![Antipodean release Kaikoura 3](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Antipodean_release_Kaikoura_3.jpg)

 *The Antipodean Albatross gets released at sea, photographs by Tracy McKeown, Albatross Encounter Kaikoura*

 A similar-looking young Antipodean Albatross “very dehydrated, very hungry and near death” on arrival was treated at New Zealand's *[South Island Wildlife Hospital](http://www.wildlifehospital.co.nz)*, but died while still in care ([click here](https://acap.aq/latest-news/3248-an-antipodean-albatross-receives-hospital-care-in-new-zealand?highlight=WyJhbnRpcG9kZWFuIl0=)).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 April 2021, updated 05  April 2021*