A New Zealand penguin that ended up on a popular Hobart beach, thousands of kilometres from home, has been safely returned to the ocean.
The Fiordland penguin, nicknamed Torkel, was recently spotted by a beachgoer and taken to Bonorong Wildlife Hospital for examination.
According to the hospital, Torkel had likely come ashore to moult but was “very warm and very stressed” due to the number of people and dogs nearby.
“Our team assessed Torkel and were relieved to discover he did not have any serious injuries, although he was stressed and dehydrated,” the hospital said.
“Torkel had evidently just come to shore to moult.”
Fiordland penguins typically moult between January and March, spending a few weeks on land while they shed and regrow their feathers.
During this time, they aren’t waterproof, meaning they can’t swim or hunt for food.
Bonorong said Torkel had chosen an “unfortunate location” to come ashore, as spending two to three weeks on a busy dog and pedestrian beach could be “disastrous”.
After a short stay at the hospital, Torkel was safely relocated to a more secluded area to finish his moult under the guidance of experts and government authorities.
“Torkel’s story is a timely reminder to take care of our wildlife friends by giving them plenty of space and keeping pets far away,” Bonorong said.
Fiordland penguins are native to New Zealand, breeding in the South Island’s coastal regions.
They often travel between Tasmania and New Zealand, occasionally turning up on the state’s beaches.
