CHRISTCHURCH: In an extremely rare occurrence, an exhausted Antarctic penguin has been found 3,000km away from home on a beach at south-eastern coastline of New Zealand.

The animal braved an intensive journey from the icy terrain of Antarctica to New Zealand’s sandy shores, arriving at Birdlings Flat Beach in Canterbury this week.

Affectionately named ‘Pingu’ by locals, the young Adélie penguin was spotted looking somewhat lost at Birdlings Flat. The area is a small settlement on the country’s South Island.

According to armidaleexpress.com, the penguin was spotted by local Harry Singh, who stayed with the animal as he ran around on the beach, flapping his wings and wiggling his tail — but not returning to the water.

Till now, it is only the third incident when a live Adélie penguin has made it to New Zealand. This species of penguins lives on the Antarctic peninsula.

Quoting an online encyclopedia of New Zealand birds, www.newshub.co.nz says, Adélie penguins are rarely recorded far from the Antarctic coast or sea-ice and are “very rare vagrants” to mainland New Zealand. As reported by the encyclopedia, there are only two other documented instances of an Adélie penguin arriving on Aotearoa’s shores — an adult corpse was discovered north of the Flaxbourne River mouth in Marlborough in December 1962, and a live bird was found in Kaikoura in January 1993.

According to wionews.com, the penguin’s arrival is also a testimony of the fact that the birds face several threats from changed habitats, warming waters and increased competition over food supplies.

The penguin was released into a dog-free bay on Banks Peninsula, where it is hoped he will make his long way back home.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2021