Gari the penguin crosses the ditch

NEW ZEALAND – On 16 May 2017 an endangered Fiordland crested penguin named Gari headed to her new home at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, after years of care and treatment at The Nest Te Kōhanga, Wellington Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital.

Gari as a juvenile penguin at The Nest Te Kōhanga
in March 2015. Credit: Wellington Zoo

Gari was just a juvenile bird when she was originally found in Hokitika with extensive wounds to her lower abdomen and to her left foot. Gari received care and initial treatment by the veterinarian team at West Coast Vets Hokitika, and then the West Coast Penguin Trust arranged for her to fly to Wellington to receive further treatment at The Nest Te Kōhanga in December 2014.

“When Gari first arrived at The Nest Te Kōhanga, we performed a general health check and multiple surgeries to repair her various wounds,” said Senior Veterinarian Baukje Lenting.

“We don’t know how Gari sustained her injuries but due to the severity of the wound around her lower abdomen, her vent has changed shape and location since healing. This means she would likely struggle to produce and lay fertile eggs in the wild.”

Wellington Zoo releases endangered Fiordland crested penguin into the wild

NEW ZEALAND - Wellington Zoo's veterinary team were able to release a nationally endangered Fiordland crested penguin back into its wild West Coast habitat, after successful treatment at The Nest Te Kōhanga.

The female Fiordland crested penguin (Tawaki in Maori) arrived at Wellington Zoo in September with an infected wound from a predator bite, but recovered well after receiving treatment from the expert veterinary team.

“This Tawaki has responded really well to treatment during its stay at The Nest Te Kōhanga,” said Dr Lisa Argilla, Veterinary Sciences Manager.

“We cleaned and stitched up the wound, which due to the infection and pain meant she was unable to swim and hunt in the wild. After treatment, she has steadily gained weight, been eating well, and displayed excellent physical fitness and waterproofing after spending time in the salt water pool.”

The bird flew south on Monday along with Wellington Zoo Vet Nurse Angelina Martelli, who provided care along the journey. The penguin was released in the evening near the site she had been found in Hokitika, with support from Department of Conservation (DOC) and local rehabilitation volunteers who had found and cared for her initially.

“This Tawaki was found in need of the specialist veterinary treatment and pre-release care that the team at Wellington Zoo is able to provide,” said Antje Wahlberg, DOC Ranger.

“We’re delighted to help this endangered bird, whose story helps people connect to Tawaki, and support conservation work as a result.”

“Caring for these precious endemic birds is a special opportunity, and a great example of the collaborative nature of conservation agencies,” said Dr Argilla.

“Wellington Zoo has strong relationships with DOC and the local rehabilitation volunteers as well as with the West Coast Penguin Trust, which highlights the importance of conservation organisations working together to save animals in the wild.”

Source
Wellington Zoo releases endangered Tawaki into the wild [press release], 19 November 2015, Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo takes the lead to help wild little blue penguins

NEW ZEALAND - Wellington Zoo and Forest & Bird’s Wellington Branch have joined forces on a targeted campaign to help protect the shy native birds that share our coastline – little blue penguins (also known as Kororā).

“Hundreds of Kororā call Wellington home, but lots of people don’t actually know about them or see them,” said Daniela Biaggio, Wellington Zoo Conservation Manager.

Dogs, however, can easily sniff out these strong smelling little birds – which can be bad news for little blue penguins, as research has shown that dogs off leash are one of the major threats to their survival.

Happy trails, Happy Feet!

NEW ZEALAND -  It was one small slide for a penguin, one giant slide for penguin-kind as Happy Feet, a strong contender for World's Most Adventurous Penguin, became the first emperor freed into the wild with a tracking device.

Watch the video of Happy Feet's release at Stuff.co.nz

The wayward penguin, who found his way onto a New Zealand beach and into people's hearts worldwide, was released from NIWA's vessel Tangaroa into the Southern Ocean at 10:30 am on 4 September, 49 miles due north of Campbell Island, at a depth of 285 metres.

Wellington Zoo's manager of veterinary science, Dr Lisa Argilla, had to give her patient a friendly nudge to send him on his way down the purpose-made hydro-slide off the stern ramp of the vessel. Other release options, including using an inflatable boat, could not be used because of the rough seas.

“Happy Feet needed some gentle encouragement to leave the safety of his crate that has been his home for six days," Dr Argilla said.

"He slid down his specially designed penguin slide backwards but once he hit the water he spared no time in diving off away from the boat and all those ‘aliens’ who have been looking after him for so long.”

“It's an indescribable feeling to see a patient finally set free!" she said. "It’s definitely the best part of the job.”

The NIWA team onboard were all out on deck to farewell their special passenger, glad that he has been returned to his natural environment.

Voyage leader Dr Richard O'Driscoll said it had been a pleasure to have Happy Feet onboard.

“He’s been a well-behaved passenger, except when our team have helped to feed him, and he’s shown them who the boss is with a peck or two. We are just happy to help him on his journey home.”

On 29 August, a day after his penguin-themed farewell party, Happy Feet left Wellington Zoo – his home for the last two months since being found exhausted and hungry on Peka Peka beach on the Kapiti Coast – in a travel crate specially designed to keep him cold and comfortable during the voyage.

As the Tangaroa's Very Important Penguin, Happy Feet was treated to hoki for his meals and ‘room service’ with fresh ice put in his crate each day. It has been a very rough journey, but it seemed that Happy Feet coped with the rollercoaster seas better than his caretaker.

"Mr HF was, as per usual, stroppy!" Dr Argilla wrote on The Nest blog on 2 September. "I was slipping and sliding around the crate this morning while trying to hold his mouth open for fish, and he took advantage of the fact that Dan [from NIWA] and I were struggling ... little fiend ... He is still doing so well, I still can't believe how he just stands in his crate while I'm holding onto whatever I can find for dear life for fear of being swept overboard!"

The team onboard Tangaroa will now continue their voyage on a month-long fisheries survey on Campbell Island southern blue whiting stocks. Dr Argilla is still writing her blog, although things are much quieter without her Mr HF.

The day after his release she wrote, "It was a little sad not having to check up on him first thing and have him tell me off with is characteristic little head nod. I couldn't help but get a little (ok, a lot!) attached to him after 2 months. Ah well, I am still ecstatic that he is free, and I bet he is too!" 

Dr Argilla is filling in her time by working on her thesis and fighting seasickness, as well as following the penguin's progress.

"Part of the routine now is to get daily updates as to HF's position as the crew (and me of course) are all VERY interested in what he is up to. We're pretty happy he is cruising steadily South. There is a lot of fish around so he is likely having a great time munching on them as he passes," she wrote on 8 September.

Happy Feet has been fitted with a Sirtrack satellite tracker and a microchip, thanks to the generous support of Gareth Morgan, so fans are able to follow his travels at www.nzemperor.com.

The Dominion Post reported that even New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key had something to say about the penguin's successful release: "I am glad an orca whale didn't eat him; we wish him the best."

I hope all goes well for our feathered friend. To quote Dr Argilla, "Good luck Mr HF, keep safe, swim home SOUTH please, find some mates, and please stay away from those orcas and leopard seals!"

I would also add a reminder that SAND IS NOT SNOW.

Read related posts

Sources
Happy Feet travel blog number 9 by Dr Lisa Argilla, 2 September 2011, Wellington Zoo's Nest blog
Happy Feet has been successfully released, 4 September 2011, Wellington Zoo
Happy Feet travel blog number 13 by Dr Lisa Argilla, 4 September 2011, Wellington Zoo's Nest blog
Happy Feet released in Southern Ocean by Kate Newton, 4 September 2011, The Dominion Post
Dr Lisa Argilla travel blog number 1 by Dr Lisa Argilla, 5 September 2011, Wellington Zoo's Nest blog
Hard to tell if Happy Feet is heading in the right direction by Kiran Chug, 6 September 2011, The Dominion Post
Dr Lisa Argilla travel blog number 2 by Dr Lisa Argilla, 8 September 2011, Wellington Zoo's Nest blog

Date set for Happy Feet's return home

Happy Feet on Peka Peka Beach,
where it all began ...
Photo credit: Beverley Shore
Bennett. Some rights reserved.

NEW ZEALAND - Happy Feet the adventurous emperor penguin is set to return home to the subantarctic onboard Tangaroa, NIWA's largest research vessel.

Tangaroa is due to depart Wellington on 29 August for a month-long fisheries survey on Campbell Island southern blue whiting. Happy Feet will be released from the ship on the way, approximately four days out to sea, at about 53 degrees south.

Dr Lisa Argilla, Manager Veterinary Science at Wellington Zoo, will accompany the penguin on his journey home. She will be assisted by two NIWA staff who are on the vessel for the fisheries survey. They will be trained to help Dr Argilla feed and care for the penguin before the voyage departs.

Happy Feet will be housed in a specially designed travel crate constructed by Wellington Zoo staff, designed to keep him cold and comfortable during the voyage.

NIWA General Manager of Research, Dr Rob Murdoch, said, “The NIWA team are looking forward to having this extra special guest onboard the vessel with us for the journey."

"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.”

“We are really pleased that NIWA will be releasing the emperor penguin,” said Wellington Zoo Chief Executive Karen Fifield.

“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.”

“It is a fantastic coincidence that the Tangaroa’s journey takes it to 53 degrees south, which is within the natural range of juvenile emperor penguins – they are often spotted on Campbell Island which lies at the same latitude.”

Before the boat departs, Happy Feet will be fitted with a GPS tracker, thanks to the generous support of Gareth Morgan and Sirtrack. Fans will be able to follow his progress on both the Sirtrack website and the Our Far South website. At Our Far South you can also sign Happy Feet's farewell card!

Bluebird Foods is generously funding the veterinary costs required to care for the penguin on the trip.

I hope the pampered penguin won't find it too cold out there in the Southern Ocean. The recent polar blast felt all over New Zealand (snow in Wellington?!?) meant it's been cold enough for Happy Feet to take a few dips in his saltwater pool. But while Zoo staff left the door open for him to access the pool as he pleased, the Dominion Post reported that on Monday Happy Feet wasn't so keen to brave the cold - he had to be pushed into the water by vet Mikah Jensen, and then he only swam around for about 20 seconds before returning indoors!

Zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker said that his swimming showed he was making excellent progress. "Because he's swimming it shows that he's got excellent waterproofing," she told NZ Herald.

Support Happy Feet's return to the wild by donating online at Wellington Zoo's website.

Read related posts

Sources
Happy Feet heading home in style onboard NIWA's largest research vessel, 17 August 2011, Wellington Zoo
It's even too chilly for Happy Feet by Michelle Duff, 16 August 2011,  The Dominion Post (includes video)
'Perky' Happy Feet set to swim home by Hayley Hannan, 16 August 2011, NZ Herald

Famous flightless bird meets famous Fry

NEW ZEALAND - Two creatures with very high social media profiles met this morning when British actor Stephen Fry visited Wellington Zoo and was allowed into celebrity emperor penguin Happy Feet's room.

Mr Fry, who has almost 3 million followers on Twitter, posted a photo of himself with Happy Feet on his Twitter account.

Happy Feet has quite a few followers of his own - the Associated Press reported that more than 120,000 unique visitors have logged onto the live webcam set up by TV3 in his room, and he is a popular topic on Facebook and Twitter.

According to the Dominion Post, the lucky Mr Fry was at the Zoo filming with chimpanzees as part of a BBC programme on language when zoo staff suggested he might like to meet the adventurous penguin.

The price of fame

But Happy Feet is certainly not a free bird. Wellington Zoo spokesperson Kate Baker told NZPA it has cost around NZ$10,000 to keep Happy Feet at the Zoo and it will cost around $30,000 to return him to the wild. This estimate includes his refrigerated transport from Wellington to Bluff and a fishing boat to take him to a point past Stewart Island for release.

So far the Zoo has raised $18,000, which has covered his upkeep, and the additional $8,000 will go towards his trip home. Ms Baker said the Zoo will continue fundraising to hopefully raise the remaining $22,000.

Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell told the Sunday Star Times that $30,000 may seen like a lot to spend on one bird, particularly at a time when the Department of Conservation has had its budget cut and announced staff redundancies, but the publicity around Happy Feet had heightened people's awareness of birds and wildlife in New Zealand in general.

"I wouldn't begrudge Happy Feet his $30,000 because it has created an opportunity to talk," he said. "It might make people think about the wildlife that's around us all the time rather than what turns up once a century."

Read related posts

Sources
Stephen Fry meets Happy Feet, 11 August 2011, The Dominion Post
NZ penguin eats, sleeps, waddles to delight of web by Nick Perry, 5 August 2011, Associated Press
$30k bill to get Happy Feet back home, NZPA, 31 July 2011, NZ Herald
Happy Feet rated priceless publicity despite costs by Sarah Harvey and Michael Field, 31 July 2011, The Sunday Star Times

Healthy Happy Feet could be on his way home soon

NEW ZEALAND - Media darling Happy Feet the emperor penguin has been given a clean bill of health and could be on his way home in late August.

The adventurous juvenile underwent a medical checkup at Wellington Zoo on Thursday, which included blood tests, x-rays and having a tracking device inserted under his skin.

Zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker told The Dominion Post that the penguin had put on 4kg since he arrived at the Zoo. He now weighs 26kg and is "looking good".

The famous penguin's presence has lured visitors to the zoo, boosting visitor numbers by almost half, The Dominion Post reported. Thursday was the zoo's biggest day of the school holiday period and the first day Happy Feet could definitely be seen by the public as he was having some procedures done.

One lucky visitor, Irene Twist, was given the opportunity to get up close and personal with the bird after the zoo's chief executive found out she remembered seeing emperor penguins at Wellington Zoo in 1926 when she was only 4 years old.

Ms Twist told TV3 that she could hardly sleep on Wednesday night because she was so excited. After watching Happy Feet's procedures she was allowed to touch the bird.

"They let me stroke it and they opened up the feather and let me put my fingers into the body, he was so gorgeous," she said.

One News reported that Happy Feet had another unusual visitor: a special effects expert from Weta Workshop, who cast a mould of the bird's foot for future texture reference should they ever need it.

It's been a pretty big week for the penguin. Monday was Wellington's coldest day since records began, which may have caused disruption for travellers (and a shock to the system for this particular traveller arriving from Northern Hemisphere summer), but gave Happy Feet the opportunity for his first swim in the saltwater pool.

Ms Baker told The Dominion Post he was unlikely to get another dip for a while.

"If we had another really cold day we could do it, but it needs to be below 5 degrees for that to happen."

Happy Feet may be the right weight and condition for release, but the Zoo and Department of Conservation (DOC) are not rushing into anything.

Zoo veterinary science manager Lisa Argilla told the NZ Herald, "There are a lot of factors we need to consider just to keep him safe on the journey, so we just need to work through that and make sure we take him down south and have a successful release."

DOC biodiversity manager Peter Simpson said Happy Feet would travel from Wellington to Invercargill either by air or on a refrigerated truck. He would then travel from Bluff, 27 south of Invercargill, by boat to a point past Stewart Island where he would start his +3000km swim home.

The method of travel would have to be approved by Dr Argilla, based on how stressful it will be for Happy Feet.



Read related posts

Sources
Hundreds flocking to see Happy Feet, 29 July 2011, The Dominion Post
Return trip beckons for heavier Happy Feet by Shabnam Dastgheib, 28 July 2011, The Dominion Post
Penguin passes physical with flying colours, 28 July 2011, One News
Second encounter in 85 years for penguin-lover, 28 July 2011, TV3
Happy Feet feels right at home, 26 July 2011, NZ Herald

"Sand eater" Happy Feet to be released in the ocean

Happy Feet at Wellington Zoo.

NEW ZEALAND - It has been decided that release in the southern ocean, south east of New Zealand, is the preferred option for the emperor penguin whom New Zealand (and the world) has taken to their collective hearts as Happy Feet. This is the northern edge of the known range of juvenile emperor penguins.

The penguin, who was confirmed as a male by DNA tests, turned up on Kapiti’s Peka Peka Beach, thousands of kilometres from Antarctica. He then had to be taken to The Nest, Wellington Zoo’s hospital, after eating too much sand and too many sticks.

Since his arrival at The Nest, Happy Feet has undergone a series of procedures to remove the sand and sticks from his digestive system. After his latest procedure, on Saturday 2 July, the Zoo tweeted that he was “doing well”.

“It looks like most of the sand is out and he is moving on to whole pieces of fish.”

Wellington Zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker told the media on 11 July, “He now weighs 23kg and has gained 1kg since the sand was removed.”

Happy Feet is doing so well there is now talk of moving him to the Zoo’s pool house; Zoo staff are working on cooling the saltwater pool down to a suitable temperature for the penguin. He is currently residing in an air-conditioned room, where he is kept in darkness to stimulate current conditions in Antarctica (where is it constant night in winter) and to minimise his stress. While Zoo staff are doing their best for him, his accommodation still has its downsides.

“You can compare him in his enclosure to someone in hospital in terms of boredom,” Ms Baker said.

The move to the pool house would make his life a bit more exciting. Ms Baker said it might also give the public a chance to see the plucky penguin.

"If he would swim in the saltwater pool the public will be able to watch.”

The wayward bird has not been on display apart from during medical procedures, but the public has been able keep an eye on him via a liveweb cam set up by TV3 – “All penguin, all day”. So far I've seen some delightful tail-waggling, scratching sessions, and a lot of sleeping. Those Southern Hemisphere-side will be able to watch fresh snow deliveries and feeding times. 

Happy Feet will not be released until he is deemed well enough to have a reasonable chance of survival, and he will reside at the Zoo until this time. The Zoo’s veterinary science manager Lisa Argilla told the media that it was difficult to estimate how long this would be, but it was likely he would remain at the Zoo for a month.

Eventual release

The penguin’s eventual fate was decided by a special advisory group made of up representatives from the Department of Conservation (DOC), Wellington Zoo, Massey University and national museum Te Papa.

"The reason for not returning the penguin directly to Antarctica is that emperor penguins of this age are usually found north of Antarctica on pack ice and in the open ocean," said DOC biodiversity spokesperson Peter Simpson.

Massey University Associate Professor John Cockrem said, “Taking it back to Antarctica would be an issue on several levels. The weeks it could take to get there would put a lot of stress on the bird.”

Dr Cockrem spent three weeks camping and working with emperor penguins at a large colony at Cape Washington in Antarctica in 2004 studying stress responses in the birds.

He has discussed some of the issues with staff at Antarctica New Zealand, who agree that the issue is not as simple as just taking the penguin back to Antarctica. There are international protocols in place to protect Antarctic wildlife, and these protocols are important. The risks are real - there are multiple examples of Antarctic penguin colonies experiencing significant deaths due to suspected viruses. Another issue is finding the penguin's home colony as there is no way to be sure which of the several emperor penguin colonies this bird has originated from.

Antarctica New Zealand science manager Ed Butler told The Dominion Post, "Even if we screened Happy Feet, we still couldn't be sure that he wouldn't be carrying something that would turn up in blisters and sores in six months' time and kill all his mates."

"There are 150,000 breeding pairs in some colonies, and 65 per cent of that is a big number. That's a lot of dead penguins for one penguin."

Plans to return Happy Feet to the ocean are still in the early stages, however, and more research is required into the logistics and practicalities of this option, including costs. Sirtrack have offered to provide a transmitting device to be fitted to him before his release that will allow his movements to be tracked remotely via a satellite.

But wherever he is released, Lisa Argilla told The Dominion Post that it has to be some distance from land. “We don't want to have visibility of the land mass. He's a bit of a sand eater."

Feel the love

Meanwhile, help is pouring in for “NZ’s favourite penguin”, who made no. 3 on NZ news site Stuff’s “Top 10 list of animals that have captured our hearts”.

Wellington Zoo has created  a Happy Feet appeal, with all donations going towards ensuring his care and safe passage and will also support the other work that the Zoo does with penguins.

Businessman Gareth Morgan, who previously offered Happy Feet a place on a Russian icebreaker back to Antarctica, offered to match donations to the appeal dollar for dollar. His generosity meant money for the penguin’s NZ$10,000 food bill was raised within 24 hours. The Dominion Post reported that Dr Morgan got to meet Happy Feet after his operation last weekend.

Bluebird Foods has committed to donating 5 cents from every packet of “Kiwi As” potato chips sold to “The Happy Feet Appeal” and other penguin-related initiatives. Conservatively, this could mean at least $20,000 for the appeal.

Perhaps closer to Happy Feet’s heart than money is food, which Marlborough-based New Zealand King Salmon has donated in the form of 100kg of salmon smolt. Since the penguin moved on to solids after his sand-eating fiasco, he is eating up to 2kg of salmon per day.

Restless pioneer

So why did Happy Feet end up in New Zealand in the first place? Richard Sadleir, former director of science and research for DOC and former director ecology division of DSIR who has published research on the movements of Adelie penguins, speculates that “Happy Feet is a sort of pioneer, looking for a new place to live.”

In an opinion piece in The Dominion Post, Mr Sadlier wrote:

“Happy Feet is the second emperor penguin in 40 years to reach New Zealand shores since naturalists started keeping records. It is very likely that many emperors made it to New Zealand in the past 1000 years and many more would have travelled north and probably died before they could return home.”

“Ecologists think that the evolutionary reason for roaming animals, often called stragglers, is that, by chance they may arrive at a suitable place to live, then settle down and start a new colony, therefore extending the range.”

“The penguin seems to have travelled too far in its quest but its relatives back in Antarctica will continue the process of travelling far from home to see if new homes are available.”

Te Papa’s curator of terrestrial vertebrates Dr Colin Miskelly, who identified Happy Feet as an emperor on Peka Peka Beach and is a member of the special advisory committee, has written a very interesting entry on Te Papa's blog about why Happy Feet may have ended up in New Zealand, and the reasoning behind the committee’s decision: No latitude for error: a young emperor penguin a long way from home.

International condemnation

In other Happy Feet related news, The Dominion Post reported that DOC received angry emails from animal lovers around the world when it made its initial decision to leave Happy Feet to fend for himself on Peka Peka Beach.

The Dominion Post said the emails also revealed how close the penguin was to being euthanased.

Read related posts

Sources

@Wellington Zoo on Twitter, accessed at 8:49 PM on 11 July 2011 (NZ time)

New playground for Happy Feet, NZPA, 11 July 2011, Stuff.co.nz

Donations keep penguin’s salmon rolling in, 8 July 2011, The Dominion Post

Bluebird chips in to help Happy Feet, 5 July 2011, Bluebird Foods

King salmon feed emperor penguin, 5 July 2011, Wellington Zoo

Happy Feet may be setting up a colony by Richard Sadleir, 5 July 2011, The Dominion Post

Happy Feet the penguin live web cam, 1 July 2011, TV3

Further operation for Happy Feet by Kiran Chug, 1 July 2011, The Dominion Post with NZPA

Condemnation over Happy Feet delay by Kiran Chug, 30 June 2011, The Dominion Post

Release in southern ocean preferred option for emperor penguin, 29 June 2011, Department of Conservation

No passage to Antarctica for Happy Feet by Michelle Duff and Janine Bennetts, 29 June 2011, The Dominion Post

Sea release best option, says penguin researcher, 28 June 2011, Massey University

Stuff’s top 10 animal heart-warmers, 28 June 2011, Stuff.co.nz

Help Wellington Zoo treat the emperor penguin “Happy Feet”, 26 June 2011, Wellington Zoo

Peka Peka penguin in critical condition after too much sand

The emperor penguin's operation draws
a crowd at Wellington Zoo.
Photo credit: @WellingtonZoo on Twitpic

NEW ZEALAND - The emperor penguin who swam 4000km from Antarctica to Kapiti's Peka Peka Beach is now in Wellington Zoo's hospital recovering from operations to remove sand from its stomach and oesophagus.

The penguin, nicknamed Happy Feet, was spotted at the beach on Monday 20 June. It was taken to the zoo on Friday after the Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers monitoring it noticed its behaviour had changed and it was showing signs of ill health.

On an initial examination, Wellington Zoo veterinary staff said the penguin was dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion, and appeared to have a blockage in its throat, which x-rays later showed was sand.

DOC biodiversity manager Peter Simpson told the Dominion Post that the bird had probably been eating sand in an effort to cool down, as penguins normally eat snow if they become too hot.

The penguin has subsequently undergone two procedures, one on Friday and one on Saturday, to flush the sand out of its system, but there is still a lot more sand to come out. The Sunday Star Times reported that the operation on Saturday was watched by about 100 people behind a glass partition. 

The bird is currently recovering from its operations in a special cold room "complete with shaved ice and air conditioning", the zoo tweeted. "Yep he is munching on ice."

The latest tweet said the penguin had survived another night and will spend another day "chilling out" in its cold room. In a previous tweet the zoo said the bird may undergo another procedure on Monday.

Zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla told the Sunday Star Times that the 3kg of sand threatened to harden into concrete balls that could rupture its stomach. It was still in critical condition, despite the surgery.

Meanwhile, if the penguin survives, it may have a way back home - Dr Gareth Morgan of Gareth Morgan Investments has offered the penguin a free sea passage back to Antarctica on a Russian icebreaker. The "Our Far South" expedition leaves in February 2012 and expedition leader Dr Morgan has offered a berth for the penguin and its DOC minder.

"[T]he penguin would be able to look out for its friends en route and given the option to jump ship if it spots some of its kin," said Dr Morgan.

"Of course until that time Happy Feet will have to be cared for here in Wellington, where we’re lucky enough to have a great community of wildlife experts, capable not just of pumping sand but also ensuring this wayfaring fellow is hosted appropriately until it’s time to set sail."

DOC had said on Wednesday (when the penguin still appeared healthy and happy at the beach) that they were leaving the penguin to its own devices and that returning it to Antarctica was not feasible because there is no transport there in the winter and it is currently dark 24 hours of the day.

"DOC is not planning to move the penguin," said Mr Simpson at the time. "There is no reason to shift a healthy animal to an artificial environment or return it to the sea ... when the penguin wants to swim it will take to the water itself. We are letting nature take its course."

Now that the penguin is ill and has required human intervention, I wonder if DOC's stance on transporting it back to Antarctica will change.

Fingers crossed for a safe recovery (and hopefully a return to the wild) for this adventurous bird! 

Read previous post: Emperor penguin a rare treat for New Zealanders

Sources
From Kiwisaver to penguin-saver by Susan Pepperell, 26 June 2011, Sunday Star Times
@WellingtonZoo on Twitter, last accessed 10:30am, 26 June 2011 (NZ time)
Expedition leader offers to return Happy Feet to Antarctica, 25 June 2011, Dr Gareth Morgan
Penguin strong but given 50/50 chance by Kay Blundell, 24 June 2011, Michelle Duff, The Dominion Post and Stuff
Emperor penguin's health being monitored, 24 June 2011, Department of Conservation
Emperor penguin faring well, 22 June 2011, Department of Conservation