In late September 2019, a tiny Fiordland penguin washed up on a beach in Victoria, 170 kilometres west of Melbourne, Australia. It had swam all the way from the South Island of New Zealand. Scientists found it struggling by some rocks well underweight. The penguin has now regained its species usual 3.5kg weight in his time at Melbourne Zoo. The Fiordland penguin swam 2500 kilometres before arriving in the shallows of Kennett River. To gain his muscles back, they released him into water, at first just a bathtub but gradually a swimming pool. This feat is unusual as penguins of his kind rarely leave the island by more than 150 kilometres. It is now ready to complete its 2500 kilometre journey home. Scientists have micro chipped him so that they can find out if it returns successfully. "We are hoping that this penguin will get home and breed." Dr Michael Lynch, a zoologist working at Melbourne Zoo, told the Guardian Newspaper.
The scientists in charge of restoring his normal weight claimed that he ate 20 to 25 percent of his own bodyweight. After eight weeks, it will finally be released back into the wild. It has now been taken to Phillip Island National Parks to build up its muscle strength in larger pools.
By : Charlie