"Happy Feet" released into wild

An Emperor penguin was found walking along Peka Peka Beach on New Zealand's North Island on June 20, 2011, about 2,000 miles from its native Antarctic habitat, after it got lost while hunting for food.

AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Mark Mitchell

Emperor penguins typically spend their entire lives in Antarctica and almost never make landfall near humans. According to the Department of Conservation, the last (and only) recording of an emperor penguin in New Zealand was in 1967 - forty-four years ago.

Nicknamed "Happy Feet," the penguin was weak and emaciated. X-rays revealed debris in its stomach.

The ill penguin was operated on at Wellington Zoo several times with hopes it would recover fully.

"Happy Feet" is brought into the operating theater at Wellington Zoo by staffers Dr, Lisa Argilla (right) and Dr. Baukje Lenting June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" undergoes a medical examination while Wellington Zoo staff Lydia Uddsrtom (right) and Dr. Baukje Lenting look on, at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

The male, estimated to be about 3 and a half years old, is about a meter tall.

The emperor penguin is anaesthetized prior to a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" has a cotton bud held to its flipper after a needle was removed, at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" undergoes a medical examination while Wellington Zoo staff member Lydia Uddsrtom looks on, June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

A veterinary nurse holds debris removed from the stomach of an Antarctic penguin that wound up stranded on a New Zealand beach and resorted to eating sand, at Wellington Zoo in Wellington, New Zealand. The penguin was recovering after an endoscopy performed by one of the country's leading surgeons.

"Happy Feet" recovers after undergoing a medical examination while zoo staff members Lydia Uddsrtom (left) and Dr. Baukje Lenting look on, at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

A photo taken Aug. 16, 2011 shows the emperor penguin recovering at Wellington Zoo in Wellington, New Zealand.

In this photo released by National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA), "Happy Feet," the wayward emperor penguin, stands at the top of a makeshift water slide before he is released into the Southern Ocean, south of New Zealand, from t — AP Photo/NIWA

The emperor penguin at Wellington Zoo, Aug. 16, 2011. Officials agreed that releasing the penguin in the open water southeast of New Zealand - the northern edge of juvenile emperor penguins' known range - was preferable to taking it to Antarctica. "Emperor penguins of this age are usually found north of Antarctica on pack ice and in the open ocean," said Department of Conservation biodiversity spokesperson Peter Simpson.

The emperor penguin stands in his cage as he prepares to be returned to the sea, at Wellington Zoo on August 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. He will be released into the Southern Ocean, complete with GPS tracking device, from a research vessel embarking on a month-long trip to the Campbell Islands, 700 kilometers south of New Zealand.

Gareth Morgan, who helped fund the electronic tracking equipment for the emperor penguin "Happy Feet," holds a giant farewell card containing messages from around the world, beside NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa, at Burnham Wharf on August 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" is carried onto the New Zealand research ship Tangaroa in Wellington on August 29, 2011 before making its four-day journey to the Southern Ocean east of Campbell Island. Happy Feet was put into a custom-made insulated crate to hitch the ride south.

"Happy Feet" is unloaded, to be carried onto the New Zealand research ship Tangaroa in Wellington on August 29, 2011 before making the four-day journey to the Southern Ocean east of Campbell Island.

"Happy Feet" looks up at Gareth Morgan aboard NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa, at Burnham Wharf on August 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

"Happy Feet" on August 29, 2011, before making the four-day journey to the Southern Ocean east of Campbell Island, to be returned back to the wild.

The emperor penguin named "Happy Feet" stands in his container aboard the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) research vessel Tangaroa, on August 29, 2011 at Burnham Wharf in Wellington, New Zealand.

'Happy Feet" prepares to make his return to the sea, September 4, 2011, at sea off Campbell Island, in the Southern Ocean.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research via Getty Images

"Happy Feet" prepares to make his return to the sea, September 4, 2011, at sea off Campbell Island, in the Southern Ocean. The penguin has been fitted with a tracking device so that researchers can continue to monitor his progress.

"Happy Feet" exits his crate on board NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa, September 4, 2011, at sea off Campbell Island.

"Happy Feet" prepares to make his return to the sea, September 4, 2011. The penguin was released down a specially-made "hydro-slide" off the stern ramp of the vessel by Wellington Zoo's Manager of Veterinary Science, Dr. Lisa Argilla and NIWA staff. Other options for the release, such as an inflatable boat, were abandoned due to the weather.

Dr. Argilla said the release went "without a hitch," though the penguin needed some "gentle encouragement" after spending several days in its crate. "He slid down his specially-designed penguin slide backwards but once he hit the water he spared no time in diving off away from the boat and all those 'aliens' who have been looking after him for so long," said Dr. Argilla. "He didn't even look back. No gratitude shown!

"It's an indescribable feeling to see a patient finally set free!" Dr Argilla said. "It's definitely the best part of the job."

"Happy Feet" has been fitted with a Sirtrack satellite tracker and a microchip. His travels - hopefully not wayward - can be tracked online at the website nzemperor.com.