Lost Penguin 'Happy Feet' Begins Journey Home

Aug. 29, 2011 -- The lost emperor penguin that found itself 3,000 miles from its snowy home in Antarctica has begun its return journey to its native land after receiving lifesaving surgery.

The wayward penguin, known to the world as Happy Feet, left the Wellington Zoo in New Zealand today aboard the research vessel Tangaroa for the four-day trip back to his homeland, where Happy Feat will rejoin his other emperor penguin friends.

"We have a bittersweet moment, I think, for the zoo," Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield told ABC News. "We are a bit sad to see Happy Feet go."

The 3-foot-tall penguin will travel to Antarctica aboard the research ship Tangaroa in a travel crate especially designed to keep him cold and comfortable.

He will be kept cool with 60 buckets of ice and fed a diet of fish

Happy Feet was found washed up on a New Zealand beach June 20, the first emperor penguin in 44 years to be found so far from its home.

He was moved to the Wellington Zoo after he became sick from eating sand that zoo officials said he likely mistook for snow.

The penguin underwent three medical procedures in his two months at the zoo, most recently one that removed approximately 7 pounds of sand, sticks and stones from his stomach.

"We probably emptied about half the stomach. Hopefully, now with a bit of luck, the stomach will now start functioning on its own accord," gastroenterologist John Wyeth of Wellington Hospital told The Associated Press after the surgery in June.

Happy Feet regained about 18 pounds after his surgeries, thanks to a diet of fish milkshakes, and was given the all-clear by officials over the weekend.

"It's very exicting for me to get him to this point where we can release him," zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla told ABC News.