13 Sep 2011

Happy Feet no longer transmitting

8:16 pm on 13 September 2011

The company that made the transmitter glued to the back of the emperor penguin dubbed Happy Feet says it was acting as normal until the signal stopped four days ago.

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The penguin, which went astray and landed on a Kapiti Coast beach in June, became a global sensation during his recovery, and release into the Southern Ocean nine days ago.

A consultant from Sirtrack, Kevin Lay, says it is most likely that the tracking device fell off the penguin, but it may have been eaten by a predator.

Mr Lay says a lot was learned from the transmitter about the penguin's behaviour.