Penguin chick makes 'remarkable recovery' after life-saving surgery at Edinburgh Zoo

A penguin chick has made a “remarkable recovery” after undergoing life-saving surgery at Edinburgh Zoo.

A Northern rockhopper penguin chick named Poly recently underwent surgery to remove an eye affected by a life-threatening infection.

Zookeepers at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo discovered the injury during a routine check.

The infection did not respond to medication, and the wildlife conservation charity’s veterinary team decided to surgically to remove the afflicted eye.

Penguin chick makes remarkable recovery after life-saving surgery Edinburgh Zoo

“We were really concerned when Poly’s eye ulcer didn’t respond to medication, and we knew we had to act quickly,” Stephanie Mota, veterinary surgeon at RZSS, said.

“Poly required intensive care after the surgery. She was very sick, and for a while, everyone feared she wouldn’t make it.

“Our dedicated keepers and vets went above and beyond, coming in for extra shifts as early as 6am and as late as 10pm to ensure she had everything she needed, including extra feedings.

“They did an incredible job keeping her comfortable and it’s fantastic to see her thriving again.”

Post-surgery, Poly was cared for in a specialised creche, separate from the main penguin colony.

After showing signs of recovery, she was reintroduced and reunited with her parents, who took her back under their wing without hesitation.

Poly has now been cleared by the vets and is off her medication, no longer requiring daily monitoring, the zoo has said.

Visitors can spot her, along with the other rockhopper chicks, as they grow alongside the colony at Edinburgh Zoo’s Penguins Rock.

Ms Mota added: “It’s especially exciting because not only is Poly a sweetheart, but due to the rockhopper’s Endangered status, every new addition to the colony is a meaningful step toward securing the future of the species.”