The Otago Peninsula's newest webcam internet sensation, an unnamed royal albatross chick, has made a positive start to its recovery after being "fly blown."
It was discovered on Monday by Department of Conservation (DoC) staff who found maggots and eggs on the chick.
DoC Ranger Lyndon Perriman says they took the chick into their incubation room for monitoring and treatment of antibiotics before taking the risk and taking it back outside.
"We decided we'll take it back out to the nest and hopefully it'll still be there the next day, which it was," he says.
"It's perked up so things are going well."
While many chicks are prone to illness, Mr Perriman says it's a coincidence that the new 'star' was the one to fall victim.
"It's kind of Murphy's law, of all the ones that are actually going to get [fly blown, it] would be the one that is on the webcam," he says.
"Fingers crossed we'll see that chick leave from here in September."
The chicks are expected to fly off from Taiaroa Head in September towards South American waters where they can spend four to 10 years at sea before potentially returning to Dunedin to breed.
Last year's 'Royal Cam' star, Moana attracted more than 500,000 views online following her progress from hatching and growing before flying off.
The colony has successfully hatched 23 chicks so far this season, with one more to go.
This year's new star is expected to make a full recovery in front of its webcam audience.
Newshub.
