AN emperor penguin who took a wrong turn somewhere in Antarctica and wound up on a New Zealand beach, remained critically ill today after a second operation to remove sand from his stomach, local media reported.
Wellington Zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla said the penguin, thought to be about 10 months old and dubbed "Happy Feet" in honour of the 2006 film about emperor penguins, remained critically ill, the Sunday Star-Times said.
Vets told the Star-Times that there was still more sand in Happy Feet's stomach and while the penguin might undergo another procedure tomorrow, additional surgery may further endanger his life.
Ms Argilla told the paper one danger was that the sand might harden into balls that could rupture the penguin's stomach.
It was thought the penguin may have mistaken the sand for snow.
On Saturday, vets pumped water into the penguin's stomach as a crowd of zoo-goers watched anxiously from behind a glass panel. He was then taken back to his chilled enclosure, where he nibbled on some shaved ice, the report said.
Happy Feet was first spotted on Monday on Peka Peka Beach and taken to the zoo in a chilled box.
Even if he pulls through the sand crisis, Happy Feet's next battle will be finding a way back home.
Businessman Gareth Morgan presented a solution by offering to take the penguin on a Russian icebreaker ship bound for the Ross Sea in the Antarctic. Unfortunately, the expedition is not planned until February.
"Of course until that time Happy Feet will have to be cared for here in Wellington," Mr Morgan said.
Experts have warned that large birds can suffer trauma if moved long distances.
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