8 hours Ago By Aisling Brennan
An emperor penguin that made international headlines after it found itself 3,500km from home when it landed on a Western Australian beach has made a full recovery and been returned to the wild. The penguin made a surprise visit to Ocean Beach in Denmark, 430km south of Perth, on November 1. WA’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions asked local wildlife carer Carol Biddulph and her husband Graham to help the penguin recover after his long journey from its home in Antarctica to Australia.
Ms Biddulph said she was excited to see the penguin, who she nicknamed Gus after Emperor Augustus, back in the water and wished him the best on his trip. “I don’t know how come Gus has turned up here,” she said. “Whether he just got into the wrong slipstream, I don’t know, but he turned up, you know.
“I have birds that come from New Zealand, birds that come from the islands in the Indian Ocean, birds that have come from sub Antarctic islands. “Quirky things happen in life and there’s not always an answer, but we just have to do the best we can when a bird in need turns up.” Gus had been given the tick of approval by veterinarians to return to the wild, and was released by a Parks and Wildlife Service vessel off the southern coast of Western Australia on November 20.
Ms Biddulph said Gus was “ready” to return to the wild after being in her car for 20 days. “He was ready for it. I think I glimpsed him have a little drink and yeah, he’s just, he’s just gone,” she said.
“So good luck, Gus. “Just keep going South, Gus. Don’t stop for anyone.
“He’s got a long journey home and look, I just got every confidence he’s going to make it. “He’s just one – a bird in a million. He’s fantastic.
” Ms Biddulph had worked hard to get Gus’ strength back up, providing him all the fish he needed to gain 3.5kg while in her care. Gus was well catered for while being looked after by the Biddulph family, even having access to a mirror.
“He absolutely loves his big mirror and I think that has been crucial in his wellbeing, the sociable birds and he stands next to his mirror most of the time,” Ms Biddulph said. “I find for other species of Penguin that I have in care, the mirror is a must have, especially when they I’ve only got one in at a time. When there’s two or three, it’s great, they can bounce off each other.
” It’s believed Gus’s arrival is the first time ever an emperor penguin has journeyed so far south to Australia. Emperor penguins have been known travel up to 1,600km on foraging trips that can last up to a month. Anyone who spots an emperor penguin is urged to report any resightings along the WA coast to the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.
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