The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — In a remarkable journey, the only known emperor penguin to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released back into the ocean, 20 days after being discovered on a busy tourist beach.
The adult male penguin was spotted on November 1, resting in the sand dunes of Ocean Beach in Denmark, a coastal town in southwest Australia. This location is approximately 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of his typical Antarctic habitat. On Wednesday, he was returned to the Southern Ocean by a Parks and Wildlife Service team aboard a boat.
Although the exact release distance was not disclosed, the boat traveled several hours from Albany, Western Australia’s southernmost city, to find a suitable location.
The penguin, named Gus after Emperor Augustus by his caregiver Carol Biddulph, was in poor condition when found. Biddulph, a registered wildlife rehabilitator, provided intensive care that helped him recover.
“When he first arrived, I wasn’t sure he’d survive. He was so undernourished,” Biddulph said in a video shared by the government after Gus’s release.
During rehabilitation, Gus gained significant weight, increasing from 21.3 kilograms (47 pounds) to 24.7 kilograms (54 pounds). Although healthy adult male emperor penguins can weigh over 45 kilograms (100 pounds), his recovery was a positive step.
To aid his social nature, Biddulph used a mirror as part of Gus’s care routine.
“He adored his big mirror,” she explained. “It gave him a sense of company, which was crucial for his well-being as a social bird.”
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species, standing about 1 meter (39 inches) tall. While they are known to travel up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) during foraging trips, this is the first documented case of an emperor penguin reaching Australia, according to University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell. Some emperor penguins have been known to venture as far as New Zealand, which lies closer to their natural range.
With summer approaching in the Southern Hemisphere, officials prioritized Gus’s timely return to the ocean, where he could regulate his body temperature more effectively.
Reflecting on the experience, Biddulph said, “I’ll miss Gus—it’s been an unforgettable few weeks that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”