A Humboldt penguin that escaped from the Tokyo Sea Life Park in March has recently been sighted in Tokyo Bay near the Rainbow Bridge. According to BBC News, the bird has been positively identified by a band on its flipper, and it appears to be a good weight and otherwise healthy. It is still hoped that the bird will be recaptured and returned to the aquarium to live with the rest of its flock.
When intensive searches soon after the bird escaped failed to locate it, officials had feared the bird was unable to survive in the wild and had died. After this recent sighting, however, it is believed the bird is feeding on small fish in the bay and likely returning to shore in the evenings.
The Humboldt penguin is one of only 18 species of penguins in the world. While not classified as endangered, it is a threatened species and population numbers are declining.
Rainbow Bridge
Photo © Kazuhiko Teramoto
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