The Daily Beast - Helping "Happy Feet" The Lost Penguin - June 29, 2011
An Emperor penguin, now nick-named "Happy Feet" is seen on Peka Peka Beach of the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand before he was rescued. Emperor penguins typically spend their entire lives in Antarctica and almost never make landfall near humans, with the last sighting in New Zealand being more than 44 years ago. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Mark Mitchell)
"Happy Feet" the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The young penguin landed on NZ shores last week, after traveling over 3,000 kilometres from the antarctic. The ill penguin was operated on at Wellington Zoo several times this week to remove sand and sticks from its stomach with hopes it will recover fully. A team of experts is likely to decide today, whether the bird will remain in captivity in New Zealand, or be transported back the the antarctic. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, has a cotton bud held on its flipper after a needle was removed at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" undergoes a medical examination while Wellington Zoo staff Lydia Uddsrtom (L) and Dr Baukje Lenting look on at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" is anaesthetised before a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, undergoes a medical examination while Wellington Zoo staff member Lydia Uddsrtom looks on at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
An X-ray image of "Happy Feet", the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, is seen on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The ill penguin was operated on at Wellington Zoo several times this week to remove sand and sticks from its stomach with hopes it will recover fully. A team of experts is likely to decide today, whether the bird will remain in captivity in New Zealand, or be transported back the the antarctic. (Photo by Pacific Radiology Ltd via Getty Images)
"Happy Feet" is shown in New Zealand, some 3,000 kilometres (1,900) from his Antarctic home. The penguin, a juvenile male, arrived at a beach on the Kapiti Coast, 40 kilometres north of the capital Wellington on June 20, the Department of Conservation (DOC) said. (Richard Gill/AFP/Getty Images)
These photos melt my heart. I hope he gets to go home soon!
Posted by: Misty | 06/29/2011 at 02:24 AM
hope "Happy Feet" recover soon! Love
Posted by: Wendy | 06/29/2011 at 08:10 AM
"The ill penguin was operated on at Wellington Zoo several times this week to remove sand and sticks from it's stomach with hopes it will recover fully"
Spelling error - Should read - "sticks from its stomach".
Posted by: JS | 06/29/2011 at 09:19 AM
I guess he should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque.
Posted by: Joe Rockhead | 06/29/2011 at 09:26 AM
Why doesn't Zoo Wellington keep *Happy Feet*? If virus are an issue why the junvenile emperor penguin cannot be brought back to where he came from then his stay would be the most logical move.*Happy Feet* most probably came into contact with bacteria and virus that are foreign to his former habitat, while staying at the zoo and in hospital. So why put other animals into danger when forcing him to swim back? If he makes it.
What could happen when *Happy Feet* will be abandoned at the shore line? He could be starting to eat sand and rocks again.
The unnamed millionär who volunteered to buy a cabin on a ship to the antartic for*Happy Feet* could be asked if he is willing to become the godfather of *Happy Feet* and pay for food and stay at Zoo Wellington.
Posted by: B.A. | 06/29/2011 at 09:29 AM
Totally agree with B.A.. Forcing him into the ocean and swim back is like forcing him to either die in the ocean or risk contaminating his colony if he succeeds reaching home. If the kind hearted millionaire can commit to support Happy Feet in New Zealand zoo.... although, Happy Feet will be so lonely.
Posted by: Rita | 06/29/2011 at 10:44 AM
Poor loveable Happy Feet. Sure hope he recovers and back to normal.
Posted by: Elise Boyd | 06/29/2011 at 02:37 PM
Well, he can be send to USA to be with the captivity colony of happy feet. I agree with many of you. Why force him to do something that he already went through. I guess, he came there for a reason.
Posted by: carmen | 06/30/2011 at 09:24 PM