Penguin out of order

[Donna]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110624/ap_on_sc/as_new_zealand_emperor_penguin;_ylt=AlkjRb5SSsmOZobDAaY0azas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlMDdhYjA0BHBvcwMxMTEEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9zY2llbmNlBHNsawNzdHJhbmRlZHBlbmc-

Stranded penguin moved to NZ zoo, set for surgery.

Wildlife officials stepped in Friday and moved the ailing young bird to a zoo where surgery was planned to clear its throat of sticks and sand.

[MAK]

GULP! 

[nwfloridafalconfan]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/5193196/Happy-Feet-undergoes-second-surgery

[Donna]

They should have taken care of him on Monday when he was found. To just leave him there to eat sand and sticks, makes me mad. A little too late. I sure hope he survives and they find a way to get him back with his others. Next time, be prepared! Now they know, it can happen.  Thanks nff for the link!

[Kris G.]

They should have taken care of him on Monday when he was found. To just leave him there to eat sand and sticks, makes me mad. A little too late. I sure hope he survives and they find a way to get him back with his others. Next time, be prepared! Now they know, it can happen.  Thanks nff for the link!

I couldn't understand it either-obviously he was confused to begin with and then think he could find his way out of this on his own? Glad someone finally intervened giving him some chance of survival.  Poor thing-hope he's going to be OK. 

[Bobbie Ireland]

Seems as if it is not the poor penguin who is out of order...

[Donna]

Seems as if it is not the poor penguin who is out of order...

So true Bobbie!! 

[jeanne]

I agree!  This whole thing could have been avoided if they had just rescued him when he started eating sand and sticks.

[Donna]

A young emperor penguin found washed up on a New Zealand beach has undergone two operations but remains in serious condition, reports say.

The penguin was found last Monday by a dog-walker on Peka Peka beach, about 60km (37 miles) north of Wellington.

It had apparently swum off course some 3,000km from its home in Antarctica.

As its condition deteriorated, the penguin was moved to Wellington zoo where it has undergone operations to remove sand from its stomach.

A businessman has offered to ship the bird - dubbed Happy Feet and of unknown sex - home, but only in February.

Experts were at first reluctant to intervene when the penguin was first discovered in apparently good health. But the bird grew lethargic, prompting the move to Wellington Zoo.
Map

The penguin had been eating sand - apparently mistaking it for snow, which penguins eat for hydration and to keep cool, but which is now causing internal blockages.

It has now undergone two procedures to flush the sand out, and faces another one on Monday after having a rest on Sunday.

It is on an intravenous drip to help it rehydrate.

The bird's plight has attracted worldwide attention.

"There's people all over the world keeping an eye on this guy, and they need to know that we're doing our best," said Lisa Argilla, a vet at Wellington Zoo.

New Zealand businessman Gareth Morgan, who is leading an expedition to Antarctica next February, offered the bird a lift on the expedition website.

"Of course until that time Happy Feet will have to be cared for here in Wellington, where we're lucky enough to have a great community of wildlife experts, capable not just of pumping sand but also ensuring this wayfaring fellow is hosted appropriately until it's time to set sail," he said.

[Kris G.]

Update posted today:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/lost-penguin-recovering-medical-procedure-flush-system/story?id=13941016

[Donna]

Happy Feet may have a Happy ending.
 
Penguin Place Post
Ofiicial Blog of Penguin-Place.com

The Penguin Post has learned that New Zealand multimillionaire, philanthropist Gareth Morgan is coming to the rescue of Happy Feet, the stranded and desperately ill Emperor penguin. Morgan said that if Happy Feet survives, he would take it back to Antarctica on a Russian icebreaker. Morgan is leading an expedition to the Ross Sea on the Spirit of Enderby in February, and said Happy Feet and a Conservation Department minder was welcome to come along for the ride.  He also said that Happy Feet was welcome to jump ship at any time if he met other emperor penguins along the way.

http://penguinplacepost.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/happy-feet-penguin-may-have-happy-ending/ story and pics.

[Donna]

Happy Feet On The Road To Recovery (but not home).
June 28, 2011 by Eric Bennett

The Penguin Post is pleased to report that full recovery for the young emperor penguin — affectionately dubbed Happy Feet — is looking more and more like a distinct possibility, although it may take months.  But, even given the first real optimistic prognosis in days officials are unsure when or how it could return home to the Antarctic, about 2,000 miles away. The penguin was recovering well after the an endoscopy performed by one of New Zealand’s leading surgeons — for human patients. Doctors at the Wellington Zoo guided a camera on a tube through the penguin’s swollen intestines and flushed its stomach to remove the swallowed sand and pieces of driftwood. Penguins eat snow to hydrate themselves during the harsh Antarctic winter. To ensure the health of its newest star, the zoo brought in Wellington Hospital specialist John Wyeth to help with the procedure, New Zealand Press Association reported. Monday’s surgery went well, and doctors removed about half of the remaining sand and several twigs from the bird’s digestive system, zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker said. Medical staff hope the rest of the debris will pass naturally, but an X-ray is scheduled for Wednesday. “It’s positive news, but he’s definitely not out of the woods yet,â€� Baker said. The penguin is now dining on fish slurry and has been standing and appearing more active than when it arrived, Baker said. The bird was moved to the zoo Friday after its health worsened on the beach. The penguin is being housed in a room at the zoo chilled to about 46 degrees Fahrenheit, Baker said, and has a bed of ice on which it can sleep. Happy Feet (nicknamed by local authorities and the press from the 2006 animated movie), was discovered last week on a North Island beach, the first spotting of an emperor in New Zealand in 44 years. Emperors typically spend their entire lives around Antarctica. After landing on Peka Peka Beach last week, the penguin appeared health at first, but it became dehydraded, suffered heat exhaustion and was eating large amounts of sand.

What’s next for Happy Feet still remains to be decided. Peter Simpson, the program manager of diversity for the Department of Conservation, said he is meeting with penguin experts Wednesday at the zoo to consider options. He said it’s not simply a matter of tossing the penguin back into the ocean off New Zealand’s coast. “There’s no great rush to decide,� Simpson said. “It will most likely need more medical work over the next three months.� Simpson said the penguin will likely remain at the zoo for that time while it recovers. Gareth Morgan, a New Zealand investment adviser, has offered to transport the penguin back to Antarctica next February when he leads an expedition to the southern continent. But Simpson said that, while officials appreciate the offer, they may want to act before then. Simpson said the penguin may be older than experts first thought — perhaps up to 2 1/2 years old rather than the initial estimate of 10 months. It stands about 3 feet (80 centimeters) high. Experts still don’t know if it’s a male or female, Simpson said, although DNA samples should soon provide an answer.

Happy Feet up and about in its new enclosure as it recovers.

[MAK]

Happy Feet is very cute. Thanks for the update Donna! 

[margaret]

Happy Feet - what a cutie.  I hope he/she continues to recuperate and somehow is transported to home.
Their life is hard enough.

Happy Feet was an  adorable film., and I own it, but for the true story, view March of the Penguins  it is truly inspiring.

Speaking of films about our favorite species -- Paulie
  a fun film about my favorite bird - the conure.    Yes, they really do dance like that.

And a great book and documentary - The Parrots of telegraph Hill   I own the book and film, again about my favorite parrot - the conure -  and it's great.

[Kris G.]

Lost penguin Happy Feet told to swim home

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/news/lost-penguin-happy-feet-told-to-swim-home/story-e6frg8ro-1226084251744