Capture d’écran Facebook @Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia
Gus, an emperor penguin found far, far away from his natural environment, was released after 20 days of care to return to the frigid lands of Antarctica.
ANIMALS – A journey worthy of the best animated films from the Pixar studio. At the beginning of November, the story of Gus, an emperor penguin with an adventurous air, began to tour the globe after being found more than 3,200 kilometers from his natural home, the icy lands of Antarctica.
Except that after this “ extraordinary stopover », the animal found on a beach in Denmark, in the south-west of Australia, required medical attention due to its advanced state of undernutrition after having traveled such a distance. Nearly twice as far as his species can typically travel for food. After a certain period of rest and fitness, Gus the emperor penguin has regained his freedom and the path to his natural habitat, as was reported this Friday, November 22.
And « royal guest »
This is what indicates The Guardianrelaying a Facebook post from the Western Australian Parks and Wildlife Service. “ Farewell and bon voyage to our overseas royal guest », said with emotion the institution, which supervised the release of the penguin on November 20.
« After 20 days of careful care (…) the emperor penguin was successfully released into the Southern Ocean! », It is explained in this publication, which indicates that Gus (literally) regained his strength during this technical stop far from home. “ Antarctic traveler regained strength and health, gaining 3.5kg during recovery », with two local keepers, Carol and Graham Biddulph.
This time of care also allowed the animal to wait until ideal conditions were available to return to sea and head towards Antarctica. The Australian Parks and Wildlife Service explains that the appearance of “ milder temperatures » made it possible to release the penguin into the wild, “ where it can flourish and regulate its temperature ».
Fortunately, Gus was not released without supervision. Since a veterinarian, a wildlife officer and his two faithful keepers were there to supervise his departure, from a boat that accompanied him.
“Keep going south, Gus.”
« We are optimistic that this remarkable bird is ready to continue its epic journey », Also assured the Parks and Wildlife Service. However, a message of prevention has been included in this farewell message, in the event that this very sociable animal becomes lost again along the coast of Western Australia. “ Please respect their space and report your observation “, warns the Australian Wildlife Protection Service.
It must be said that its unexpected discovery, at the beginning of November, had aroused curiosity and concern for this endemic bird of the Antarctic territory. When it was discovered, carer Carol Biddulph assured NBC News that Gus’s spine was protruding due to his undernourished state. And after weighing, the fears were quickly confirmed: 25 kg, almost half the weight of a healthy male individual.
Found on a tourist beach, he has since been considered the first emperor penguin to reach Australian shores. The species, the largest of the 18 penguin species that exist on Earth, having never been recorded in Australia, as noted for Associated Press researcher Belinda Cannell. But some emperor penguins have already been observed in New Zealand, located further south.
The red dot on the map indicates where Gus was discovered, who lives much further south, on Earth’s southernmost continent, Antarctica.
« I never imagined I would one day have to take care of an emperor penguin. It’s simply incredible “, slipped the caretaker, ” convinced that he will succeed » to find his native land. Before addressing him directly, in a video shared by Parks and Wildlife Service : « Keep going south, Gus. Don’t stop for anyone.” Normally, it is at this precise moment, when Gus flies towards the horizon under the eyes of his guardian angel, that the spectators take out their tissues…
Source: www.huffingtonpost.fr
