Emperor Penguins Rescued from Australian Beach, Return to Antarctica
Penguin Rescue and Release
Antarctica, Australia, 29th July 2023 - Approximately 329 juvenile emperor penguins stranded in South Australia have now returned to Antarctica safely. Having spent weeks in care at Sea World, each penguin has been fitted with a tracker.Penguin Rehabilitation and Release
In total, over 4,400 Emperor penguins were stranded across the coastline of Phillip Island, Victoria, and King Island, Tasmania. Whilst over 1,000 didn't survive, the remaining penguins were rescued and received expert veterinary care. The cause of these mass stranding events remains under investigation. Emperor penguins are not usually found in Australian waters, and experts are baffled as to why such a large group got lost.Rescued and rehabilitated Emperor penguins waddled into the water at Australia’s Phillip Island on Saturday, guided by the flashing lights and sounds of a boat that led the way home.
"Their journey back to Antarctica has been a long one," said Peter Dann, a penguin expert at the University of Tasmania. "They've come a long way, and now they're finally going home to Antarctica."
"It's been a great experience for us to be able to help these penguins," said Dann. "We've learned a lot about them, and we're glad that we could help them get back to their home."
The release is part of a joint effort by the Phillip Island Nature Parks, the University of Tasmania, and the Australian Antarctic Division.
The penguins will be closely monitored over the coming months to ensure that they are able to successfully return to their natural habitat.
