Happy Feet penguin does U-turn for NZ

HAPPY Feet may miss New Zealand after all, according to a tracking device showing the wayward emperor penguin is swimming north. 
The penguin was liberated in sub-Antarctic waters south of Stewart Island yesterday more than two months after coming ashore on Pekapeka Beach near Wellington.

The sickly bird, the first of his kind seen in New Zealand in 44 years, was nursed back to health at Wellington Zoo, winning the hearts of Kiwis and animal lovers worldwide in the process.

Returned to good fitness and fitted with a GPS tracking device, Happy Feet had an "excellent chance" of meeting other adolescent penguins and finding his way back to Antarctica, experts say.

But online monitoring on ourfarsouth.org seems to show that he has turned in a north-east direction and is heading back to New Zealand.

Wellington Zoo vet Lisa Argilla, who is credited with saving the penguin's life, has said some deviations in his swimming course were to be expected.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/happy-feet-penguin-does-u-turn-for-nz/story-e6frfku0-1226129387080

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Wayward penguin returning to sea

The wayward emperor penguin known to the world as Happy Feet has left a New Zealand zoo on the first leg of his journey back to cooler southern waters.

The three-foot penguin craned his head back and forth, flapped his flippers and seemed a little perturbed by his move from the Wellington Zoo to the research vessel Tangaroa, which was to leave port later.

Happy Feet was found on a New Zealand beach on June 20, far from his Antarctic feeding grounds. He was moved to the zoo after he became ill from eating sand that he likely mistook for snow. He has since regained weight and been cleared to be returned to the wild.

Lisa Argilla, a vet who has helped nurse the penguin back to health, said he has a "stronger and stroppier attitude" than when he arrived at the zoo, when his demeanour seemed flat and his feather condition was poor.

"He's definitely a survivor," she said.

His story has touched people from around the world. A web camera set up at the zoo has attracted about a quarter of a million viewers - despite the penguin doing little more than eating, sleeping and waddling.

"He's brought a lot of hope and joy to people," said Karen Fifield, Wellington Zoo's chief executive. "His story has driven to the heart of what makes us human."

The Tangaroa is New Zealand's largest research vessel and was already scheduled to head into frigid southern waters to check on fish numbers in order to set fishing quotas. Happy Feet has been placed in a custom-made crate for the journey and will be kept cool with 60 buckets of ice. He will be fed fish. He will be released after four days at sea at a latitude of 51 degrees south.

The boat's skipper, Richard O'Driscoll, said that once the Tangaroa has reached the drop-off point, he will likely cut the engines and then release the penguin from the deck into the sea using a makeshift canvas slide.

The penguin has been fitted with a GPS tracker, and people will be able to follow his progress online after he is released.

http://news.uk.msn.com/world/wayward-penguin-returning-to-sea

Emperor penguin appears on New Zealand beach

Lost juvenile Emperor penguin a long way from home

June 2011. Locals in New Zealand were very surprised to find a 1 metre tall penguin on a North Island beach as the largest resident penguins in New Zealand, yellow-eyed penguins, grow to a maximum of just 65 centimetres.

Residents of New Zealands Kapiti Coast realised that they have been treated to a rare visit by an emperor penguin. There is only one other recording of an emperor penguin in New Zealand, at Southland's Oreti Beach in 1967.

Stay clear of the penguin
New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) advises that people should not disturb the penguin and ensure that dogs are kept on leads in the area. Penguins can give vicious bites if they feel threatened. If left alone it is expected and hoped that the bird will eventually swim back out to sea.

It is not known why these birds that reside in the Antarctic would visit New Zealand shores.

DOC biodiversity spokesperson Peter Simpson said" It's amazing to see one of these penguins on the Kapiti Coast. Unusual animals from the Antarctic sometimes visit our shores, but we really don't know why".

Department of Conservation staff were first alerted by Kapiti resident Christine Wilton who was walking her dog on Monday afternoon at Peka Peka Beach.

"I saw this glistening white thing standing up and I thought I was seeing things," Ms Wilton said.

She contacted DOC's Waikanae office and rangers went to investigate. They saw what looked like a big white ball in the sand. It stood up, looking quite relaxed and in good condition. It was later confirmed that the majestic visitor is a juvenile emperor penguin standing at about 1 metre tall.

World's largest penguins
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins, adults reaching more than a metre tall and weighing up to 30kg. They feed on fish, krill, squid and a wide range of marine invertebrates and hold the diving record at 450 metres deep and 11 minutes underwater.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/emperor-penguin-nz.html