Miraculous survival: Penguin lost at sea found safe after two weeks

Pen-chan, a six-year-old female African penguin, escaped during an event held on 25 August. Given Pen-chan's lack of preparation for life in the wild and the harsh weather conditions, her guardian believed the bird would not survive longer than a week. The penguin's owner emphasises that a miracle occurred.

A penguin in Japan was found safe and healthy two weeks after escaping to the sea and swimming many miles, which her guardian called a “miracle.”

Pen-chan, a female African penguin born and raised in captivity, who had never swum in the open sea or fended for herself, escaped on 25 August from an event held in the central region of Aichi in Japan.

The penguin's owner, Ryosuke Imai, said that his team immediately started searching the area, but a massive typhoon that brought record rainfall across Japan significantly hampered the search efforts.

As reported by straitstimes.com, given Pen-chan's lack of preparation for life in the wild and the harsh weather conditions, her guardian believed the bird would not survive longer than a week.

On 8 September, Imai received information that an unidentified penguin had been seen joyfully bobbing in the water on a beach 30 miles away.

The penguin's guardian was surprised by the animal's discovery. He described it as a "miracle." 

I thought she would look exhausted, but she was swimming as usual. It was beyond my surprise… It’s a miracle - said the man, adding that the penguin had never swum in the open sea before, so the survival is miraculous - he said.

The owner admitted that six-year-old Pen-chan had likely eaten fish and crabs she caught herself.

I think she got there by stopping at various places for a break, but it’s still unbelievable. She lost her weight slightly, but she’s doing great - he added.