Two oil-drenched penguins have been found washed up on Bay of Plenty beaches today, covered in the oil spilling from container ship Rena on Astrolabe reef.

The two blue penguins were found covered in oil on Papamoa and Little Waihi Beach this afternoon and have been taken to a specialist treatment facility in Te Maunga.

This penguin's natural colour is white and blue. He is being cared for by a veterinarian in Te Maunga.

Wildlife Response Centre Director Brett Gartrell is attending to two blue penguins stricken by the oil and says to be helping two birds this soon highlights the coming danger.

'To be getting oiled birds this early on in a spill is a very bad sign. We have a minimum number of animals we are expecting to deal with, but I expect this to grow.”

The response centre has been set up at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Te Maunga can handle up to 500 birds, but with oiled birds already being found it is likely the centre will need to extend it's capacity, in which case further resources will be needed.

The penguins found today had heavy oil over their heads, chest and ingrained in their feathers.

'The penguins lost their waterproofing and more importantly their ability to swim. These penguins had only recently been oiled. Some birds will die immediately or within hours of being oiled.”

Brett says the penguins had also ingested some of the toxic oil that can harm the animal's organs and cause death.

'Ingesting the oil is also toxic. It will take between five to seven days to see if they have had a toxic reaction.”

These two penguins were recovered this afternoon; one from Little Waihi Beach and the other from Papamoa Beach.

At the response centre near Bayfair the birds are being washed and waterproofed.

'We put a stomach tube down the penguin's throat and force fed them fluids and mackerel. The birds are then washed with canola oil in warm water and kept in ventilated cages overnight.”

Once the birds become oiled Brett says there is a limited amount of time before they become hypothermic and vulnerable to predators so finding the birds and getting them straight to the treatment centre is essential.

'When the birds lose their waterproofing they start to struggle in the water and become vulnerable to other marine life. At this stage the penguins are stable and fighting, which is a good sign.”

In addition to the penguins, four seabirds were found dead yesterday by the slick and two oiled shags are being transported from Motiti Island to Te Maunga for treatment tonight.

The two blue penguins will be kept in pools at the treatment centre and will not be released until they are able to float for six hours.

Wildlife Response Centre spokesperson Kerri Morgan is asking people not to touch birds washed up on beaches.

Instead she wants people to call 0800 333 771 to inform her team of experts.

The experts can then be mobilised to save the wildlife.

Wildlife Response Centre 0800 333 771