Photos: See lone emperor penguin 1st to swim from Antarctica to Australia
Images courtesy: Miles Brotherson/DBCA
Wildlife experts in Australia are caring for a lone emperor penguin that was found on a southern-coast beach earlier this month.
The emperor penguin is thousands of miles outside its home range and now in a different climate.
It’s the first known time an emperor penguin has made the 2,200-mile swim from Antarctica to Australia.
It was spotted by beachgoers on Nov. 1, and has been in the care of local seabird rehabilitator Carol Biddulph since.
"Between the condition of the bird and the activity that might have happened on the beach the following day, I thought it was best to bring the bird in," Biddulph said in an interview that was released to FOX Television Stations by Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
She said she could see the bird’s backbone protruding, indicating it was well undernourished, and that dogs, cats, foxes and vehicles posed a threat to his safety.
Once brought in, he weighed in at 51 lbs. A healthy male emperor penguin can weigh more than 100 lbs.
The emperor penguin found in Australia weighed in at 51 lbs. Healthy adult emperor penguins can weigh more than 100 lbs. Courtesy: Miles Brotherson/DBCA
Biddulph already has a dedicated penguin enclosure, but it’s been to care for the local penguins which are significantly smaller.
"Never in my wildest thoughts would I (think) I’d ever have an emperor penguin to care for. It’s just amazing; it’s just such a privilege to be part of this bird’s journey," she said.
Biddulph and her team have been spraying him with chilled water mist to help him cope with the foreign climate.
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The DBCA said its efforts were focused on rehabilitating the penguin. Asked if the penguin could potentially be returned to Antarctica, the department replied that "options are still being worked through."
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a media kit sent to FOX Television Stations from Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), which included photos, background information and an interview with local seabird rehabilitator Carol Biddulph. This story was reported from Detroit.