My New Zealand Vacation - Happy Foot missing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pengwuino
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the situation of a young penguin that has traveled to New Zealand after taking a wrong turn near Antarctica. Participants explore the implications of wildlife management, the penguin's health, and the ethical considerations of intervention versus letting nature take its course.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern over the decision to let the penguin "die naturally," questioning the morality of not intervening.
  • Others discuss the practical challenges of saving the penguin, noting that repatriation to Antarctica is not feasible due to biohazard concerns and logistical issues.
  • A participant shares an anecdote from Antarctica about a flock of Adelie penguins, highlighting the policy of non-interference with wildlife.
  • There are suggestions that the penguin could be taken to a zoo, with some arguing that its survival skills might benefit the species.
  • Some participants speculate about the penguin's navigation skills and survival, with contrasting views on whether its journey indicates unique abilities or defects.
  • Updates on the penguin's health indicate it has received medical attention and is recovering, though concerns remain about its long-term care.
  • Participants share humorous remarks and personal anecdotes related to the penguin's situation, reflecting a mix of concern and light-heartedness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best course of action for the penguin, with multiple competing views on intervention, wildlife management ethics, and the penguin's condition remaining unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about wildlife management policies, the penguin's health status, and the feasibility of transporting it back to Antarctica, which remain unclear.

  • #31


Jimmy Snyder said:
Especially the women.
Remember the old SNL skit "Quien es mas macho? Lloyd Bridges es mas macho."
 
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  • #32
Pengwuino said:
I was reading in one of the articles that penguins can stay in water for something like 2 months.
Once summer comes, they spend months at sea.

From Seaworld.org - "Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives at sea."
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/penguins/distribution.html
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/penguins/adaptations.html

"Different species travel various distances from the colony in search of food.

a. Hunting areas may range from 15 km (9 mi.) from the colony for Adélies to nearly 900 km (559 mi.) from the colony for king penguins (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). Emperor penguins may cover 164 to 1,454 km (102-903 mi.) in a single foraging trip (Ancel, et al., 1992)."
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/penguins/diet.html


Pengwuino gets a date
http://www.otago-peninsula.co.nz/yelloweyedpenguins.html
 
  • #33


latest...

Multimillionaire philanthropist Gareth Morgan is coming to the rescue of Happy Feet, the stranded and desperately ill penguin.

Morgan said that if Happy Feet survives, he would take it back to Antarctica on a Russian icebreaker.

The Kiwisaver provider is leading an expedition to the Ross Sea on the Spirit of Enderby in February and said Happy Feet and a Conservation Department minder could come along for the ride.

Happy Feet was welcome to jump ship if it met other emperor penguins along the way, Morgan said.

Yesterday's operation was watched by about 100 people behind a glass partition and a zoo spokesperson said the procedure went well.

In addition to the comforts of air-con and shaved ice, Happy Feet is also hooked up to an IV drip to keep up its fluids.

Vets, via Twitter, have also remarked that while everyone has been referring to Happy Feet as a "he", it will take a few more days to determine its sex.

Happy Feet weighs about 27kg and is making headlines worldwide because of its 4000km swim to New Zealand.

The last known emperor penguin to visit New Zealand shores arrived at Southland's Oreti Beach in 1967. It was released into Foveaux Strait.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5193679/From-Kiwisaver-to-penguin-saver
 
  • #34


Aww, thanks Apeiron, very happy news indeed!

Come on Happy Feet, get well!
 
  • #35


Evo said:
Aww, thanks Apeiron, very happy news indeed!

Come on Happy Feet, get well!

Amazing what can be done when people see a problem and pitch in isn't it ?

Let's hope Happy Feet has a happy life, thanks Aperion, and Evo for the coverage and kind words.

Rhody... :approve:
 
  • #36


Just an update:

http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20523918,00.html"
happy-feet-300.jpg
 
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  • #38


I hope it's not like Andre the sea turtle. They fixed him up then sent him back out into the wild and found him dead just 3 weeks after releasing him. If they had let him continue to recover, he'd still be alive.
 
  • #39


No sharks or predators?? How is this possible?
 
  • #40


Evo said:
I hope it's not like Andre the sea turtle. They fixed him up then sent him back out into the wild and found him dead just 3 weeks after releasing him. If they had let him continue to recover, he'd still be alive.
I knew it! He wasn't ready! :cry: :cry:

Happy Feet the penguin missing in Southern ocean!

The three-and-a-half year old male's home in Antarctica was about 2,000 kilometres further south and the hope was that he would join up with other emperor penguins on the long voyage.

They pushed him off of the boat, he didn't want to go. :cry:

http://news.yahoo.com/happy-feet-penguin-missing-southern-ocean-081845894.html
 
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  • #41


Evo said:
I knew it! He wasn't ready! :cry: :cry:



They pushed him off of the boat, he didn't want to go. :cry:

http://news.yahoo.com/happy-feet-penguin-missing-southern-ocean-081845894.html

:cry::cry::cry::cry:
 
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  • #42
Oh heck. It's probably just a defective transponder. Besides, if they hadn't intervened, he might not have even made to where they pushed him off the boat.

Just sayin'
 
  • #43
dlgoff said:
Oh heck. It's probably just a defective transponder. Besides, if they hadn't intervened, he might not have even made to where they pushed him off the boat.

Just sayin'
:cry: You're so cold to the poor penguin.
Look at them pushing the poor thing. He probably died of a broken heart.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14879982
 
  • #44
  • #45
Evo said:
:cry: You're so cold to the poor penguin.
Look at them pushing the poor thing. He probably died of a broken heart.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14879982

I'm just being realistic.

Researchers said Happy Feet may have been eaten, or the tracking device may have failed or fallen off.

My bold on link quote.
 

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