The animal rescue centers that operate in many different countries are places that not only provide animals in despair with food and medical assistance, but also with love, affection, and care. And sometimes it seems that the latter has even greater influence in the process of recovery. A center of this type is the Kaikoura Wildlife Rescue in New Zealand which opened in Sepetmber 2017. Its core purpose is treating injured and ill native New Zeland birds.

The facility is operated by Sabrina Luecht, a wildlife biologist who specializes in endangered species and although it may seem unbelievable, she does it for free.

A great number of young seabirds faced with starvation recently due to La Nina conditions. The majority of birds Sabrina has been caring for are shags, Hutton’s shearwaters, gulls, petrels, owls, kereru, kingfishers and blue penguins like the adorable one in the video below.

The blue penguin was injured due to an attempt to free itself from a fishing net and needed to be taken care of. And that’s exactly what Sabrina does with the birds from the rescue center. The penguin spent six days under Sabrina’s protection. During that time, it was given the necessary medication, antibiotics, rehydration, special nutrition and rest.

When the time came for the penguin to be released in the water, Sabrina accompanied it to the ocean. That’s when she realized that the bird she saved was aware she was its rescuer. The lovely penguin wasn’t about to say goodbye that easily.

As the waves crashed in front of it, the bird simply stared at Sabrina, unsure of what to do next. Discover what the blue penguin’s next steps are in the heartwarming video below.