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The hunt was on Monday for a penguin that scaled a sheer rock face to escape from Kasai Rinkai Aquarium in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward, and was last seen swimming in a river in the Japanese capital.
The one-year-old Humboldt penguin was photographed bathing in the mouth of the Old Edogawa river, which runs into Tokyo Bay, after fleeing its home in an echo of the hit animated film "Madagascar."
Takashi Sugino, an official at Kasai Rinkai Aquarium, said the 60-centimeter bird appeared to have got itself over a rock wall twice its size and made a run for it.
"We first noticed the penguin might have fled when the director of a neighboring zoo e-mailed us Sunday, with a photo," said Sugino.
A second picture provided by a visitor allowed keepers to identify the errant bird as one that hatched last January.
Sugino said it was not entirely clear how the creature had managed to get out of the enclosure it shares with 134 other Humboldt penguins.
"Of course it can't fly, but sometimes wildlife have an 'explosive' power when frightened by something. Maybe it ran up the rock after being surprised," he said.
In the 2005 computer animated film "Madagascar," penguins are among a group of animals that mount an escape as they are being transported.
Zoo officials were Monday scouring the area where the Tokyo penguin was last spotted in the hope of recapturing it.
"It's a bit of a struggle to catch it when it is swimming, because it swims at a tremendous speed," Sugino said. "We are hoping to catch it when it climbs up on land to sleep."
If you have any information, call 03-3869-5153.
© AFP/Japan Today
32 Comments
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nath
That penguin has a very long swim home ahead of him!
NeoJamal
Take my flock, take my egg, take me where I can't prey, I don't care, I'm still free, you can't take the sea from me
SquidBert
It has been sent by his peers on a secret mission to order some sushi?
7solace9
Crouching Tiger Hidden Penguin. Now playing, in the Kyu-Edo river.
patty cake champion
He probably realized that Disney Sea across the river paid better
GW
better call BATMAN & THE BOY WONDER!!!
Go penguin GO!
mikemiro
I'm sure literary agents everywhere are now hunting for it to secure a script deal for the "Free Pengy" Disney movie that'll be coming to a theater near you...
supermonk7
Front page news if I ever saw it.
Gurukun
Seems like jail breaks are becoming one to many in Japan lately. Were they doing some sort of construction on the perimeter fencing?
Wakarimasen
A Penguin of Madagascar?
WilliB
I am rooting for the escapee!
risugirl
wow!that's a daring escape!go,go,go pengy!!!!!
Himajin
Swim for your life, Pengi!
cubic
everyone is supporting to penguin
nath
SWIM MUMBLE SWIM!!!! Go back and teach the others how to tap dance!!
seriously though, glad its still alive.
Franchesca Miyara Yang
Slow day news.
Rima Kristy
I like how the penguin isn't labeled as missing until someone sees it in a river and then reports it to aquarium.
nath
I wonder what his parents were convicted of.
cactusJack
I bet the media is all in a frenzy.
gogogo
Disneyland and Disneysea are right next door.
Serrano
"If you have any information, call 03 3869 5153"
If I see that penguin, I will give it safe haven.
Himajin
Now, that would be hilarious if he/she went somewhere and taught other penguins the aquarium routine :-D
zurcronium
Send a black and white to find the black and white.
nath
I called this number just to check, and it was a bunch of penguins in the back ground crying. So sad.
Jannetto
Hope he swims to Taiji and teaches the dolphins some escapology. Swim far, little penguin, swim fast!
choiwaruoyaji
Poor little penguin... those rivers and Tokyo Bay are horribly polluted. Hope it is safe.
Fadamor
LOL as soon as I read the article, that's the first thing I thought of.
"Remember, You didn't see anyyyything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtcMW3i6-gA
tenguleavings
This being Japan, the local government is already working up a special residency certificate for the penguin as we speak.
ebisen
Free Linux !!!
SquidBert
Tux takes early spring break?
WilliB
They are now trying to lure him back with tape recorded penguin love calls. Don´t fall for it, pengi! They are lying! Swim!