Timeline
June 20 - emperor penguin was found on Peka Peka Beach, about 40 miles northwest of New Zealand's capital, Wellington, some 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from its home. It appeared healthy and uninjured. For the next few days, the Department of Conservation and Peka Peka community members kept watch on the penguin to ensure that people kept a respectful distance, and to protect it from possible dog attacks.
June 24 - After the penguin was seen swallowing sand and sticks, and its condition had deteriorated from the previous night, he was loaded into a truck and taken to the nearby Wellington Zoo. First operation to pump sand from stomach.
Kept in an air-conditioned room furnished with fresh ice brought in daily. The penguin is thought to be around three years old. It had been 44 years since an emperor penguin was last spotted in the wild in New Zealand.
June 25 - Second operation to pump sand from stomach.
June 27 - Endoscopy & x-rays Removed a lot of sand and some sticks. A lot of sand in the penguin's system which is hoped it will be able to pass naturally.
June 29 - X-rays have revealed that Happy Feet is making excellent progress.
July 4 - DNA test result back - HF is male! Happy Feet begins being fed solid fish.
July 26 - Baby ruru/morepork is 25 days old. (a.k.a. "evil baby owl")
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150339771901289
July 28 - health check and x-rays show good results. A microchip has been inserted in his leg. He now weights 26kg - up 4kg from when he arrived
Aug 1 - a toy placed in his cold room - a mobile out of plastic kidney dishes after repeated instances of the penguin taking a bit of a liking to the thermometer in the room and wouldn't stop playing with it
as of Aug 2 - Happy Feet underwent five surgical procedures to remove sand and sticks from his stomach. Happy Feet has a microchip implanted in his leg
Aug 4 - online following of more than 120,000 unique visitors have logged onto a Web camera monitoring his every move.
Aug 8 - Happy Feet now being fed once a day (formerly twice a day) due to his recovery: liquid of fluids and electrolytes, 1kg of salmon/sardines
Aug 15 - A cold blast from the Antarctic has brought snow to New Zealand's capital city of Wellington for the first time in 40 years. Second plunge in the saltwater pool for Happy Feet. Sliding door in his room remains open in the next few days so he can access the outdoor saltwater pool at his leisure.
Aug 23 - second mirror added in his room
Aug 28 - final health check at the zoo. Tracking device glued to his feathery bum. Will only last until he molts in April.
Aug 29 - HF leaves on NIWA's boat Tangaroa
Sept 4 - Happy Feet has been successfully released into the southern ocean after 2 days delay at rough sea.
View Happy Feet Video Montage:
The Happy Feet Story: Dominion Post - Aug 27
