Ice box takes penguin to Wellington Zoo

24 Jun 2011 11:16p.m.

Tabitha wrote:

I had the pleasure of meeting this penguin & taking some pix of him, I feel honored to have seen this magnificent penguin in my lifetime, & that refreshing reminder of the creatures that share this planet with us also. We have such a high rate of animal abuse & neglect in this country, & I can't fathom why such people exist. I wondered if this penguin could have got caught up in the Japan Tsunami currents. He indeed has come along way from home, & managed not to get eaten on his way here. What a feat! Why don't DOC take him right out to sea & release him in the ocean, then hopefully he will continue to swim home, nature could then decide. I'm disappointed that some folk don't have good views of DOC, this country would be in a horrible state if they didn't have their input. My daughters & I very much enjoy the stunning camping spots around, often DOC areas. And I encourage the birds in my garden, & try to talk to the fantails :) Ha!. Rosie perhapes you don't get outside & enjoy our gorgeous native fauna & flora, nor back to basic's camping...Keep up the good work DOC, thanks from us in the woods:)

24 Jun 2011 06:34p.m.

c wrote:

Thank Heaven. I was concerned the poor thing would just be left to die. Thank you for trying to help him. A life is very important, no matter the species.

24 Jun 2011 06:19p.m.

David wrote:

Happy Feet may be very happy at the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. It's very cold in there - Brrrr! but only as long as he/she doesn't mind the odd shake (just had a 4.2).

24 Jun 2011 04:26p.m.

Jo wrote:

Unless Wellington Zoo plans on building a multimillion dollar enclosure for 1 bird, it cant go there in the long term. Emperor penguins live in a FROZEN environment, even in a Wellington winter, its too hot for the bird. Emperors also live in a community, so it needs to have lots of other emperors around. Kelly Tarltons does not have any Emperors so it would still not be living a happy life. For the bird to end up in NZ, there must be something mentally wrong with the poor thing for it to loose it's way to such an extent. Feeding the bird is potentially delaying the inevitable

24 Jun 2011 03:56p.m.

katrina wrote:

For you Doc haters, Doc were right we can not intervene with every wild animal that comes our way. They had to wait and see if it was justing resting up before it moved on or what ever.

24 Jun 2011 03:33p.m.

Jo wrote:

I would love this penguin to live here in New Zealand, maybe Kelly Tarltons or Wellington Zoo? I feel like since s/he made it all the way here we have to look after it, and call s/he Happy feet :)

24 Jun 2011 01:41p.m.

Erm wrote:

Hear hear, Rosie. The laisez faire attitude of DoC was either lazy or callous.

24 Jun 2011 12:37p.m.

Rosie wrote:

At least that is something. I didn't like DOC's idea of just "letting nature take it's course". Couldn't understand why it could not have at least been fed - it's probably suffering from hunger. Here's hoping this beautiful bird will survive and if it cannot be taken back to it's homeland, then maybe Wellington Zoo may be able to keep it fed and happy. I am not a great fan of the Department of Conservation, so fingers crossed all will turn out well for this bird.