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At the time of rescue, it weighed around 21 kg, which was considered unhealthy for an adult male emperor penguin, as they usually weigh over 45 kg.
Emperor Penguin makes history with an epic journey. (Photo Credits: Facebook)
An emperor penguin named Gus, who travelled from Antarctica to Australia, has been transported back to its icy origins. This marks the first recorded incident of an emperor penguin arriving on the Australian coast. The disoriented penguin, which travelled over 3,220 kms, was discovered on a beach in Denmark, Western Australia, on November 1. After several days of care, the penguin was released back into the Southern Ocean off the coast of Australia on November 20.
Local surfers reported seeing a penguin walking along the sandy dunes, looking malnourished and confused. Weighing round 21 kg at the time of rescue, it was deemed an unhealthy weight for an adult male emperor penguin, which can easily weigh over 45 kg. Gus was taken into foster care by a licenced wildlife rehabilitator, Carole Biddulph, and her husband, a vet.
When recovering over a 20-day period, Gus went through the rehabilitation process. Biddulph implemented a progressive feeding regimen, starting with fluids and slurry, followed by whole fish, Fox Weather reported. This was crucial as Gus needed to build up his energy without overwhelming his system.
According to CBS News, to help with loneliness, a mirror was introduced to mimic companionship. This method has been shown to be effective in the rehabilitation of social animals, such as penguins.
During Biddulph’s care, Gus reportedly gained around 3.6 kg and eventually weighed around 25 kg at the time of his release.
On November 22, the government released a video of Biddulph, taken prior to the bird’s release, in which she said, “I really didn’t know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished. “I’ll miss Gus. It’s been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldn’t have missed.”
Gus was released on November 22, 2024, into the Southern Ocean from a Parks and Wildlife Service vessel after several hours of travel from Albany, Western Australia. The timing of his release was important, as the Southern Hemisphere summer was approaching, making it essential to return him to cooler waters for thermoregulation.
According to an NBC News report, Biddulph joyfully encouraged him as he swam away from the boat: “Good luck, Gus! Just keep going south, Gus. Don’t stop for anyone.”
Gus’ journey remains unclear, as it is uncertain how the penguin ended up in Australia. Experts speculate that water currents may have carried him off course, or he could have wandered far during a foraging expedition, as emperor penguins are known to travel great distances in search of food.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, around 75% of the breeding colonies of emperor penguins are threatened by changes in the annual sea ice cover in Antarctica, which is becoming increasingly unpredictable due to climate change. It is important to note that penguins breed and live on sea ice, but the ice is thinning as our planet warms.
