First emperor penguin found in Australia after 2,000-mile journey from Antarctica
Wildlife officials are looking at options for the malnourished penguin’s future and returning him home has not been ruled out.
A malnourished emperor penguin has been found in Australia for the first time – more than 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast.
The adult male was discovered on 1 November on a tourist beach in the town of Denmark in southwest Australia.
The emperor is the largest penguin species and has never been reported in the country before, according to Belinda Cannell from the University of Western Australia.
She said she had no clue why he had taken such a long journey, although some emperors have been spotted in New Zealand before.
The one-metre tall bird weighed 23kg when he was found, but healthy males can weigh more than 45kg.
He is being cared for by seabird rehabilitator Carol Biddulph, who’s spraying him with chilled water mist to help him adapt to the warmer climate.
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The sighting was reported by Western Australia’s department of biodiversity and conservation.
When asked if the penguin could be returned home, it said “options are still being worked through”.
