Melbourne, Australia — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach, officials said Friday.

An emperor penguin that made it to a beach in Australia was released back into the Southern Ocean after spending 20 days in recovery and gaining more than a few pounds, according to officials.

The emperor penguin was malnourished, alone — and on a popular beach in southwest Australia, waddling through the sand more than 2,000 miles from its natural habitat.

An aquarium in Australia is now home to the biggest baby penguin it has ever seen. Pesto, a 9-month-old king penguin, has weighed in at just under 50 pounds — more than the weight of both his ...

This is the first time an emperor penguin has been reported in Australia, according to a wildlife expert. It came ashore Nov. 1 after making about a 2,200 mile swim north from its home in Antarctica.

The penguin appeared Nov. 1 on Ocean Beach in Denmark, a town in western Australia, and was spotted by a beachgoer, according to a statement provided to USA TODAY by the Department of Biodiversity ...

A male emperor penguin dubbed Gus stands on a scale after being discovered on a beach near Denmark, Australia, on Nov. 1, 2024, thousands of miles from its normal habitat on Antarctica.

In March 2025, a rare, all-white penguin was found on a beach in Australia in 'underweight and dehydrated' condition. The Wildlife Welfare Organisation is now caring for the bird.

Penguins are flightless birds found primarily on the coasts and islands of Antarctica, South America, Australia, New Zealand, ...

Sphen the penguin has died in Sydney, Australia at age 11. He leaves same-sex partner Magic and two adopted children behind. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium/AFP via Getty Images It was a life well sphent ...

An emperor penguin found earlier this month in Denmark, Australia — about 2,200 miles off the Antarctic coast — is reportedly being cared for by a wildlife expert.