Two of our three adopted dogs were "released" like this on our dirt road. We usually refer to the practice as "dumping".
So sad for them. Oh do you consider this dumping! I wish they could have taken him further, the seas were rough. I'm not sure of this whole idea but I guess they had to do what they had to. Just hope he survives to tell his tale.
Good for them, really, because now they live on Easy Street.
Dumping was the first thing that came to mind when I saw him splash into the sea. I'm sure the releasers know more than I'll ever care to know about penguins, but 49 miles just seems a long way for him to navigate when he's already proven he doesn't know north from south. Maybe southern hemisphere miles are shorter?