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title: "An injured Northern Royal Albatross gets veterinary attention but still loses an eye"
---

# An injured Northern Royal Albatross gets veterinary attention but still loses an eye

An [Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30005) Northern Royal Albatross *Diomedea sanfordi* with an injured left eye and in poor body condition found at Moa Point, near Wellington’s Airport, New Zealand last week was taken to [Wellington Zoo](https://wellingtonzoo.com/) by Department of Conservation workers.  The zoo’s avian specialist, Dr Baukje Lenting and her team operated on the injured bird in the veterinary hospital [The Nest Te Kōhanga](https://wellingtonzoo.com/conservation/saving-wildlife-in-the-nest-te-kohanga/) on Friday.

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Northern_Royal_Albatross_eye-injury_Welington_Zoo_1.jpg) 

 "The injured eye was too damaged to recover, so it was removed … to prevent the risk of infection."  A spokeswoman for the zoo said the bird was thought to be a female but vets were still working out its gender.  The zoo plans to nurse the bird back to full health and weight before releasing it back into the wild.

  ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/N/Northern_Royal/Northern_Royal_Albatross_eye-injury_Welington_Zoo.jpg)

 Read more [here](http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/75737400/rare-big-bird-with-sore-eye-rescued-near-wellington-airport).  The Wellington Zoo's hospital has previously treated a Northern Royal Albatross that had an injured wing ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2344-an-injured-northern-royal-albatross-gets-a-free-ticket-to-wellington-zoo-s-animal-hospital?highlight=WyJzYW5mb3JkaSIsInpvbyIsInpvbydzIl0=)). 

 There are several cases of seemingly healthy one-eyed albatrosses, of at least four species, being photographed in the wild ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2011-one-eyed-albatrosses-can-make-it-through-life?highlight=WyJvbmUtZXllZCJd)).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 10 January 2016*