JAPAN: Aquarium continues search for penguin, after keepers say it scaled its walled enclosure in a bid for freedom
Record ID:
466118
JAPAN: Aquarium continues search for penguin, after keepers say it scaled its walled enclosure in a bid for freedom
- Title: JAPAN: Aquarium continues search for penguin, after keepers say it scaled its walled enclosure in a bid for freedom
- Date: 6th March 2012
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 6, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF 'TOKYO SEA LIFE PARK' REFLECTION IN WATER OF SIGN READING: 'TOKYO SEA LIFE PARK' PENGUINS IN ENCLOSURE BEHIND FENCE PENGUIN LOOKING AROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TOKYO SEA LIFE PARK, KAZUHIRO SAKAMOTO, SAYING: "There's a man-made rock wall that varies between 1.2 (4 feet) and 4 metres (13 feet) high. After somehow after climbing over it and getting out, it appears the penguin managed to squeeze through a gap underneath the outer fence." PENGUINS IN ENCLOSURE PENGUINS DIVING INTO WATER PENGUINS LYING ON ROCK PENGUINS SWIMMING IN WATER POOL VARIOUS OF PENGUINS SWIMMING IN WATER POOL PENGUIN INFORMATION SIGNS IN FRONT OF PENGUIN ENCLOSURE SIGN SHOWING PHOTO OF 'HUMBOLDT PENGUIN' (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TOKYO SEA LIFE PARK, KAZUHIRO SAKAMOTO, SAYING: "The penguin was born last year on January 27th, so it is still a very young penguin. We think that because of its young age, that it might have escaped due to its curiosity and yearning for adventure." VARIOUS OF AQUARIUM EMPLOYEE LOOKING FOR ESCAPED PENGUIN THROUGH BINOCULARS BY TOKYO BAY EMPLOYEE LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) STUDENT, HIROKI KASAI, SAYING: "The sea water around here is very dirty, so unless the penguin is returned to safety quickly it may die, so I really hope they find it soon." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) AQUARIUM VISITOR, CHIHIRO SANBONGI, SAYING: "The penguin might have escaped since it was living in an enclosure that is much smaller than its true habitat." PENGUIN SWIMMING BEHIND FENCE IN ENCLOSURE
- Embargoed: 21st March 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Environment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAD3XUM7FUA3CO4PI92WIIGNVC5
- Story Text: On the shores of Tokyo Bay, the hunt for a fugitive penguin continued on Tuesday (March 6), after keepers said it scaled a rock wall in a daring bid for freedom.
Tokyo Sea Life Park were alerted to the escape of the one-year-old Humbolt Penguin, known only as 'Number 337', after receiving a photograph that allegedly showed the bird swimming in Tokyo Bay on Sunday (March 4).
Kazuhiro Sakamoto, Deputy Director of the Tokyo Sea Life Park described what he thought to be the penguin's escape route.
"There's a man-made rock wall that varies between 1.2 (4 feet) and 4 metres (13 feet) high. After somehow after climbing over it and getting out, it appears the penguin managed to squeeze through a gap underneath the outer fence," he said.
Sakamoto added that the believed "Number 337" escaped due to its sense of adventure.
"The penguin was born last year on January 27th, so it is still a very young penguin. We think that because of its young age, that it might have escaped due to its curiosity and yearning for adventure," he said.
But now officials are worried the penguin may have strayed out to sea, and the aquarium has launched a city-wide appeal for information.
Some visitors to the aquarium said they were worried about the flightless bird.
"The sea water around here is very dirty, so unless the penguin is returned to safety quickly it may die, so I really hope they find it soon," student, Hiroki Kasai, said.
Others thought the penguin escaped in search of wider seas.
"The penguin might have escaped since it was living in an enclosure that is much smaller than its true habitat," Chihiro Sanbongi said.
The aquarium has warned members of the public that despite its age, the penguin is near the full-grown adult size. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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