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 on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AP
WELLINGTON (AFP) - 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 on 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.
Ms 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.
Source: The Straits Times
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