Expedition Leader offers to return Happy Feet to Antarctica

Stranded Emperor penguin Happy Feet has been offered a free sea passage back to Antarctica on a Russian icebreaker courtesy of expedition leader Gareth Morgan. Morgan’s “Our Far South” expedition leaves for the Ross Sea in February and he has offered a berth to the penguin and its DoC minder.

“A sea passage is far more akin to the animal’s natural rite of passage across the Southern Ocean than any trip in a Globelifter jet might be”, says Morgan, “with no risk of deep vein thrombosis”.

“Besides the penguin would be able to look out for its friends en route and given the option to jump ship if it spots some of its kin. We don’t know that the bird originates from as far south as the Pegasus airstrip at McMurdo anyway – it may well prefer to get off further north, say at Cape Adare”.

“Of course until that time Happy Feet will have to be cared for here in Wellington, where we’re lucky enough to have a great community of wildlife experts, capable not just of pumping sand but also ensuring this wayfaring fellow is hosted appropriately until it’s time to set sail”. And the tourism opportunities for Wellington from this particular tourist are infinite.

New Zealanders are able to travel down to the Ross Sea on the Our Far South expedition, which is centred on raising awareness about the critical issues relevant to New Zealanders that face both Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. They can apply on www.ourfarsouth.org