After fattening up for the past month, Snake the rare erect crested penguin found alone and hungry on a Canterbury beach, has been released back into the wild.<\/p>\n
The female bird was found on Wakanui Beach by Michael Grice from Ashburton on February 13.<\/p>\n
Grice snapped a photo, put it on social media to let people know to keep their dogs away, and reported the sighting to the Department of Conservation.<\/p>\n
Doc staff took Snake to Oamaru Penguins, where she was found to be in need of a good feed.<\/p>\n
After eating plenty of sprat and anchovies at the penguin centre, Snake went through a moulting and feather growth process which erect crested penguins do each year.<\/p>\n
This enabled her to be able to swim again.<\/p>\n
On Monday morning, staff released her from the beach at Oamaru.<\/p>\n
Science and environmental manager Philippa Agnew said it went \u2018\u2018very well\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She popped out of the carry cage and wandered straight down to the water\u2019s edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She was keen to get back into the water and swam away.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Snake will have to paddle about 800km back to the sub-Antarctic Islands.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She was in great condition so I\u2019m confident she\u2019ll make it back,\u2019\u2019 Agnew said.<\/p>\n
Grice was pleased to learn of the happy ending to Snake\u2019s story.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s pretty neat to think a chance encounter all the way up here on Wakanui Beach has now got her on her way back to her colony.”<\/p>\n