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Nature and EnvironmentAustralia

Gus the penguin sets sail in the Southern Ocean

November 22, 2024

The emperor penguin made headlines after landing on Australia's coast, an the hope is he will now return to Antarctica.

https://p.dw.com/p/4nIfv
Gus the emperor penguin is released back into the ocean off the south coast of Western Australia
'Gus' the emperor penguin released into Southern OceanImage: Miles Brotherson/DBCA/AP/picture alliance

An emperor penguin that made a roughly 3,500-kilometer (2,200 miles) journey from Antarctica to Australia was finally released at sea 20 days after waddling ashore on a popular beach.

The adult male was found on Ocean Beach on November 1 in southwest Australia, according to the government. It is the only known penguin to have covered this distance.

A male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, is photographed after being discovered on a beach in Australia
Emperor penguins have been known to cover up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) on foraging journeys that last up to a monthImage: Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP/picture alliance

Carol Biddulph, a registered wildlife caregiver, took care of the bird, whom she named Gus — after the Roman emperor Augustus.

He was released on Wednesday into the Southern Ocean from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat, which traveled several hours into the sea from the southernmost city of Albany. The government announced his release on Friday.

Gus the penguin's rescue and release

"I really didn't know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished," Biddulph said in a video recorded before the bird's release. "I'll miss Gus. It's been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldn't have missed," she told ABC News.

Emperor penguins are the largest of their kind and have been known to cover up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) on foraging journeys that can last up to a month.

Gus's return to the ocean came at a crucial time as he needed to thermoregulate to adapt to summertime in the Southern Hemisphere, the government said.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the seabird was malnourished when it arrived on the Australian shore. However, under Biddulph's care, he gained some weight and passed his veterinary check.

"I've got every faith he will get home," Biddulph said.

Volunteers help Australia's penguins beat the heat

mk/lo (AP, DW sources)