A wayward penguin went missing at sea for two weeks, possibly due to a typhoon's intervention.
The young Cape penguin nicknamed "Pen", age six and raised in confinement, had a mishap while frolicking with zoo staff from the Gekidan Penters troupe at Himakajima Island's beach in central Japan on August 25. Pen, whose handler is Ryosuke Imai, managed to escape from her enclosure, sending Imai into a state of worry and guilt.
With the scorching heat taking a toll, Pen ventured into the sea, only to discover an exit point in her enclosure. In the wild, African penguins can cover a distance of 40 kilometers (25 miles) daily, Imai shared, but their muscle strength dwindles in captivity. Little Pen had never taken a dip in the sea previously.
"I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with despair," Imai told CNN, expressing his thoughts on Pen's low chances of survival in the wild.
Luck happened to be on Pen's side.
A typhoon named Shanshan later hit the country in late August, resulting in widespread damage, including fatalities, displacement, power outages, and flight cancellations. However, it was a blessing in disguise for Little Pen, Imai believed.
The lack of operational boats and fishing nets saved Pen from perilous situations in the ocean. The heavy rain also provided an abundant supply of hydration and relief from the heat.
"She survived thanks to the typhoon," Imai said, calling it a stroke of luck with almost divine timing.
Following the typhoon, Pen was spotted swimming close to a beach, which was eight miles away from her original location and just 10 minutes from her usual residence at the facility.
Upon learning this, Imai expressed disbelief, stating, "It was hard to believe there was a penguin out there."
Eventually, Pen was found unharmed and in excellent condition.
Moreover, Pen delivered what seemed to be a substantial amount of droppings, indicating she had sustained herself on a diet of seafood, like fish or crab, Imai supposed, even though Pen was not accustomed to devouring live fish.
As Imai spoke to CNN, Pen was peacefully napping by his side.
Between sobs, Imai stated, "It's truly a miracle."
Despite being from Asia, Pen's escape to the wild sparked global interest.Inspired by Pen's survival, wildlife conservation organizations in different parts of the world began discussing potential strategies to rehabilitate and release captive penguins back into their natural habitats in the future.
