Happy Feet going home to Antarctica
Wellington, New Zealand (NBC) -
Hundreds of people lined up at the Wellington Zoo on Sunday to
say goodbye to a stray emperor penguin nicknamed Happy Feet.
Zoo staff gave Happy Feet one last check up before his trip back to
Antarctica.
The penguin washed up on a New Zealand beach 2,500 miles from
his home and became an overnight star.
Veterinarians removed 6.6 pounds of sand from his stomach. Experts
said Happy Feet probably ate the sand thinking it was snow.
On Monday, Happy Feet will start his long trip home on board a
national institute for water and atmospheric research vessel.
Zookeepers have attached a GPS tracker to him.
He will be released about four days out to sea from the research
vessel's final destination.
