WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A wayward Emperor penguin that
washed up in New Zealand will be shipped back to sub-antarctic
waters later this month on a scientific research vessel, Wellington
Zoo said Wednesday.
The adult male penguin, nicknamed “Happy Feet”, was found
wandering on a beach near the capital in June and taken to the zoo
to recuperate when he became ill after eating sand and sticks.
With the bird, only the second Emperor penguin ever recorded in
New Zealand, restored to full health, zoo chief executive Karen
Fifield said plans had been finalised to ship him back to the
Southern Ocean.
Fifield said the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research (NIWA) ship Tangaroa would set sail from Wellington on
August 29 with the penguin aboard.
The ship, which will carry out research into Southern Ocean
fisheries, will release the bird four days into the voyage near
Campbell Island, which is within the normal feeding range of
Emperor penguins.
“This is an excellent result for everyone involved, and for the
penguin, and is a great example of organisations working together
for the best outcome,” Fifield said.
The hope is that Happy Feet will swim home to Antarctica, where
Emperor penguins live in colonies ranging in size from a few
hundred to more than 20,000 pairs.
“The NIWA team are looking forward to having this extra special
guest onboard the vessel with us for the journey,” research manager
Rob Murdoch said.
“Happy Feet has captured the hearts of New Zealanders and people
across the world, and we’re pleased to be able to help safely
return him to the Southern Ocean.”
While aboard the ship, Happy Feet will be housed in a specially
designed crate that Fifield said would keep him “cold and
comfortable”, with a vet and two NIWA staff to look after him.
The penguin will be fitted with a satellite tracking device
before he is released, so scienctist and the public can track
his progress on the zoo’s website.
It is thought the bird fell ill on the beach after mistaking
sand for snow and eating it in a bid to lower his temperature,
clogging his gut and leading to a series of operations to clear his
stomach.
A diet of “fish milkshakes” at the zoo has seen Happy Feet’s
weight increase four kilograms (nine pounds) to 26 kilograms,
giving him sufficient reserves for what will still be an arduous
2,000 kilometre (1,250 mile) swim home.
The Emperor penguin is the largest species of the distinctive
waddling creature and can grow up to 1.15 metres (3ft 9in)
tall.
The reason for Happy Feet’s appearance in New Zealand remains a
mystery, although experts say Emperor penguins take to the open sea
during the Antarctic summer and this one may have simply wandered
further than most.
