A Little Rescue Owl Takes A Bath, And The “After” Photos Are Hilarious
Recently, a patient at the Massey Wildbase animal hospital in New Zealand developed a mild skin infection. The little morepork owl needed to take a medicated bubble bath to be cured.
However, the owl believed that the bath itself was a bigger problem. These birds don't like being wet, even in the rain. Pauline Nijman, a supervisor at Wildbase, knew that the little bird would not perceive the process as pampering.
"It was a big deal for both of us," she said. Little did she know that the “after bath” photos would cause quite a stir on the internet.
As it turned out, owls owe their dignified appearance to the puffiness of their plumage. If they get wet, it changes that appearance dramatically.
"He's a smaller bird but in lovely condition," Nijman said. "Though once all the fluff is wet, they look frightfully pathetic!"
The little bird was washed with chlorhexidine to address the infection and then rinsed. "He was NOT pleased," Nijman said.
She dried him a bit with a towel and then placed him under an air blower to complete the drying process. "He did dry up rather nicely!" she added.
Once completely dry and with his plumage all fluffy again, the little owl was returned to the aviary, where he joined his fellow moreporks.
"He has recovered well from his 'ordeal,'" Nijman said.
If the medical bubble bath does its job properly and he doesn't need another one, the "tortured" little bird will be released back into the wilderness soon.
Several hundred animals pass through Massey Wildbase every year, and many of them are endangered species. Even though they don't always find the treatments pleasant, they can sense that it's for their own good.
"It's a privilege to care for such amazing birds and reptiles," Nijman said.
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