POSTED: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 - 8:44am
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 - 8:45am
NBC News — A New Zealand penguin is doing fine after several sticks and sand were surgically removed from its stomach monday. The young emperor penguin nicknamed "Happy Feet," was first spotted one week ago and appeared to be healthy, but on friday conservationists moved the penguin to a zoo after it grew noticeably sick. It could still be several months before Happy Feet is well enough to be released into the wild.
Vets say it'll take some time before the penguin can regain its health. Happy Feet is malnourished and underweight which could cause him to freeze in Antarctica. Scientists still don't know what caused the penguin to wander some 1800 miles the wrong way, away from its Antarctic home.