Lost Antarctic Emperor Penguin Will Have to Find Its Own Way Home From New Zealand Beach
Posted on June 22, 2011
An Antarctic Emperor Penguin made a 2,000-mile wrong turn and found itself in New Zealand. The penguin, which was given the name Morgan, is on the Peka Peka Beach in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) reports that the lost penguin is a young penquin. It appears to be very healthy and in very good condition.
Local officials are not planning on intervening to help the lost animal. They believe the penguin will eventually try to swim again.
DOC biodiversity spokesperson Peter Simpson says, "DOC is not planning to move the penguin. There is no reason to shift a healthy animal to an artificial environment or return it to the sea. It appears to be feeding, will drink sea water, and when the penguin wants to swim it will take to the water itself. We are letting nature take its course."
Kevin McGowan at Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology told ABCNews.com, "It really has a better chance of surviving if we don't mess with it. It's a rough world out there, but he can swim a long way and do a lot out there. If you took him to a tank in the zoo, is that better?"
Take a look:
- Fossil of Giant Freshwater Turtle Discovered
- Hubble Observes Stormy Weather on Jupiter
- Australian Spider Named After Marvel's Venom
- NASA's JWST Captures New Views of NGC 604
- Ancient Giant Sea Lizard Had Dagger-Like Teeth