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Gus is an emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) who made international headlines in 2024 as the first of his species recorded in Australia. Gus’s journey of over 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) from Antarctica to Ocean Beach, Western Australia, captured the attention of scientists, wildlife enthusiasts, and the general public. Despite extensive speculation, the actual reasons behind Gus’s incredible swim remain unknown.

Discovery and rescue

On November 1, 2024, Gus was found by local surfers on Ocean Beach in the town of Denmark, located in temperate southwest Australia. Initially mistaken for a large seabird, Gus surprised onlookers by waddling ashore. Weighing only 21.3 kilograms (47 pounds) and appearing malnourished, the penguin was far below the healthy weight range for an adult male emperor penguin, which can exceed 45 kilograms (100 pounds).

Gus was taken into the care of Carol Biddulph, a registered wildlife rehabilitator, who named him after the Roman emperor Augustus. Biddulph and her husband, a veterinarian, provided specialized care, including fluids, a slurry diet, and whole fish, to help Gus recover. During his rehabilitation, Gus gained over 3 kilograms (7 pounds) and reached 24.7 kilograms (54 pounds) by the time of his release. A mirror was placed in his enclosure to simulate companionship, as emperor penguins are highly social animals.

Release

After 20 days of intensive care, Gus was deemed fit for release. On November 20, 2024, he was transported by the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to the Southern Ocean. Released from a boat off the coast of Albany, Gus immediately dived into the water and began swimming southward, back toward Antarctica. The release was timed to coincide with the approaching Southern Hemisphere summer, which is crucial for emperor penguins to thermoregulate.

Significance

Gus’s presence in Australia marked the first recorded instance of an emperor penguin reaching the continent. While emperor penguins are known for long foraging trips of up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), Gus’s extraordinary journey was more than twice that distance. Experts speculated that he may have been searching for food and drifted off course, potentially carried by ocean currents. However, no definitive explanation exists for why Gus ended up so far from his natural habitat, making his appearance a subject of mystery for researchers.

Conservation context

The case of Gus brought attention to the challenges facing emperor penguins in the context of climate change. These penguins rely on stable sea ice for breeding and feeding, but warming oceans and erratic ice patterns pose threats to their survival. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, three-quarters of emperor penguin breeding colonies are vulnerable to fluctuating sea ice conditions. A 2021 study estimated that about 98 percent of emperor penguin colonies will go quasi-extinct by 2100.

References

1. Magazine, Smithsonian; Kuta, Sarah. "Gus, the Young Emperor Penguin Who Made a Surprise Appearance in Australia, Is Now Heading Home". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
2. "Lost emperor penguin recovering after record journey across Southern Ocean". ABC News. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
3. "'Malnourished' penguin from Antarctica washes up on WA beach". The Albany Advertiser. 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
4. Mather, Victor (7 November 2024). "After a 2,000-Mile Trip, a Penguin Finds Itself on an Australian Beach". The New York Times.
5. "Lost emperor penguin found waddling up Australian beach thousands of miles from home". The Independent. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
6. "Gus the penguin makes mysterious solo trip to popular Australian beach". CBC. 11 November 2024.
7. ^ "'Good luck, Gus': Emperor penguin found in Australia is released back into the wild". NBC News. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
8. "Emperor penguin returns to the Southern Ocean | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions". www.dbca.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
9. ^ ""Gus," emperor penguin found on Australian beach after swimming from Antarctica, released at sea after 20 days of care - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
10. ^ "How did an Antarctic penguin end up in Australia?". euronews. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
11. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Kuta, Sarah. "Surfer Spots an Emperor Penguin on a Beach in Australia, Thousands of Miles From Its Antarctic Home". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
12. "This penguin swam 2,000 miles to Australia—and we don't know why". Animals. 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
13. ""Gus," emperor penguin found on Australian beach after swimming from Antarctica, released at sea after 20 days of care - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
14. Magazine, Smithsonian; Fox, Alex. "Climate Change Poised to Push Emperor Penguins to the Brink of Extinction". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-16.

• Animal migration
• Migration studies
• Individual penguins
• Migration-related organisations based in Australia
• IUCN Red List near threatened species
• Birds of Antarctica