The emperor penguin made headlines after landing on the Australian coast, and it is hoped it will now return to Antarctica.
An emperor penguin that made a journey of about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) from Antarctica to Australia has finally been released into the ocean after 20 days of waddling ashore on a popular beach.
According to the government, the adult male was found at Ocean Beach on November 1 in southwestern Australia. This is the only known penguin species to have traveled this distance.
Carol Biddulph, a registered wildlife carer, cared for the bird, which she named Gus – after the Roman emperor Augustus.
He was released Wednesday into the Southern Ocean from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat that had traveled several hours out to sea from the southernmost city of Albany. The government announced his release on Friday.
Gus rescues and releases the penguins
“I really don’t know if it’s going to make it because it’s so malnourished,” Biddulph said in a video recorded before releasing the bird. “I will miss Gus. It was an incredible few weeks, something I couldn’t miss,” she told ABC News.
Emperor penguins are the largest of their species and are known to travel up to 1,600 km (1,000 miles) on journeys in search of food that can last up to a month.
Gus’s return to the ocean comes at a critical time because he needs to adjust to the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, the government said.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the seabird was malnourished when it arrived on the Australian coast. However, under Biddulph’s care, the dog gained weight and passed its veterinary examination.
“I have no doubt he will come home,” Biddulph said.
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