Penguin passes physical with flying colours
Thursday July 28, 2011 Source: ONE News-
Happy Feet has tests at Wellington Zoo. - Source: ONE News -
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Following his first salt-water swim this week, the penguin passed his latest physical with flying colours.
Today's check-up at Wellington Zoo included x-rays, blood tests and having a tracking device inserted under his skin.
Happy Feet was anaesthetised for the procedure and vets said he had made a remarkable weight gain during his recovery from his recent surgery.
Clusters of Happy Feet's adoring fans watched through the glass walls of the clinic.
Well-wisher Irene Twist, who remembered seeing emperor penguins at Wellington Zoo 85 years ago, got a hands-on encounter with the penguin.
"You could see the feathers you know, and as you get in it's sort of softer, it's quite deep," said Twist, after being allowed to stroke the slumbering penguin.
Another unusual visitor for Happy Feet was a special effects wizard from Weta Workshop, taking the opportunity to cast a mould of the penguin's foot for future texture reference should they ever need it.
The plan is to return Happy Feet to the sub-Antarctic region towards the end of August.
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Happy Feet pulls crowds
30/07/2011
KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post
STAR ATTRACTION: Visitors can't always see Happy Feet at the zoo as he is undergoing treatment and rehab.
The emperor penguin gained worldwide fame after he was discovered on Peka Peka Beach five weeks ago.
After eating sand and sticks he was operated on and is now being kept in a 2 degrees Celsius air-conditioned room full of party ice at the zoo's hospital.
"We had a big day yesterday with around 1600 people coming through," Wellington Zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker said.
Usual visitor numbers for the same period were about 1100.
"I think that boost could be attributed to him."
Yesterday was the biggest day of the busy school holiday period and the first day Happy Feet could be seen by the public.
"We've made it clear throughout that we can't promise people they'll see Happy Feet. He's here for treatment and rehab. But yesterday he had some procedures done so people were able to see him."
The Conservation Department is planning to return him to the sea next month from a boat off the Bluff coast. Happy Feet is the first known emperor penguin to swim the more than 3000 kilometres to New Zealand from Antarctica in 44 years.
- The Dominion Post
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