Is Happy Feet a Happy Meal?
KIRAN CHUG
LATEST: The transmitter attached to Happy Feet before his release appears to have stopped transmitting.
The satellite tracking company behind Happy Feet's transmitter believe he could have been eaten by a bigger animal.
View Happy Feet's departure in a larger map
Kevin Lay, a wildlife telemetry consultant at Sirtrack said it was the possibility that no-one wanted to think about, but Happy Feet could have become another creature's meal.
"That's what makes the world go round."
He said it was also possible the transmitter had fallen off, as this was not uncommon when using transmitters to track penguins.
The transmitter had been sending back tracking information which showed he had travelled south and then east of his drop off location at 51 degrees south.
He was dropped into the sea earlier this month after being taken south by the research vessel Tangaroa.
Our Far South, the company helping to use the tracking data to come up with locations, has not received a transmission since Friday.
It was initially thought solar flares could be disrupting the signal.
However, the company now believes the most likely scenario is that the transmitter has fallen off.
"After all it was only glued on and would have had to survive extreme conditions.
It will be at least a couple of days before we know for sure that the transmitter is no longer working."
Other possibilities included transmitter damage or technical failure.
The company was still hoping to be pleasantly surprised and for the transmitter to start working again.
"But if we don't get further readings then we'll have to hope for the best."
Wellington Zoo vet Lisa Argilla cared for the emperor penguin for two months before he was released.
View Happy Feet's departure in a larger map
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Well, this was my big fear all along! Happy Feet was safe and sound, until the geeky scientists insisted that he be returned to the wild. Idiots! Now he is probably dinner for a shark or killer whale. The last day of the transmitter working-Happy Feet was cautiously moving slower, as if he sensed danger! Now, the signal is nil. Poor Happy Feet! He could have stayed at the Zoo, entertaining the children and eating like a king...but no...the scientists and know-it-all's prevailed. Hope they are satisfied! Jerks!!!!
Penguin already safe, but someone pushing it to die.
I am sure it's just the crap $2 shop super glue, I mean imagine gluing a radio to the side of a greasy old boat and heading south, how long do you think you'd be enjoying Kate Mead for ... too long probably, but there you go, haha.
Dont you guys feel sad for the penguin i mean i do i love animals i never am happy if one is eaten or has died :(
peanut butter sushi time!
Perhaps he just ran out of Bluebird chips. You know the old expression about when your chips are up.
@Tom, you are in New Zealand, people talks about only two things - Rugby and Penguin.
Bahahahaha!
Great headline.
Well in Life "your either the eater or the eaten" WOULD YOU LIKE SAUCE WITH YOUR PENGUIN !!!
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Considering the fact that for the penguin to get lost to begin with something was not right with him, they should have kept the penguin in a zoo. Only the zoo people wanted to return the penguin to the wild...he didn't want to go. Listen to what the animals say....he didn't want to get off the boat...they should have listened to the penguin.