Penguins from Napier are released at their new home in Christchurch. Picture / Simon Baker
Elvis had a limited view of her new home yesterday, but seemed to quickly fall in love with it anyway.
The little blue penguin is blind in one eye but was as enthusiastic as 17 other "second chance" penguins in exploring the new $2.6 million Penguin Encounter attraction at Christchurch's
International Antarctic Centre.
What is thought to be the world's first "indoor and outdoor" penguin viewing attraction will be opened to the public by Conservation Minister Chris Carter on September 23.
Elvis, named "not because she's got blue suede flippers, but because she sings a lot", arrived at her new home yesterday morning with the other penguins.
Antarctic Centre director Richard Benton said the penguins had come from Napier's Marineland.
The seabirds have a variety of disabilities such as sight or hearing impairments, or injured flippers or beaks.
"If they had been returned to the wild," Mr Benton said, "they would not have survived."
Once the penguin containers were placed in the new open-air enclosure (complete with a jet-driven fresh water pool and nesting boxes) they started rocking: the penguins were keen to explore their new surroundings.
When the containers opened, Elvis and her fellow penguins were into the pool within seconds for a swim and then a quick stroll to check out the rest of their new home.
Elvis will be closely monitored for the first 24 hours to make sure she adapts to the new environment and to help her get in and out of the pool.
Despite the concern, she did not look troubled.
Mr Benton said the penguins would be fed sprats (small oily fish), dutch herrings and vitamins.
It is hoped they will produce chicks that can one day be released into the wild.
"They all have their own personalities and partners," Mr Benton said. "Some are good breeders, some aren't - just like humans."
Little blue penguins live around New Zealand and southern Australia, and are described as being "near threatened" after colonies were decimated by ferrets, rats and weasels.
