How sweet and how stupid.

In such a vast ocean the likelihood he'll find other Emperors is next to none, meaning he'll become quick prey for a whale, shark or leopard seal.

The notion the right thing to do was release him back into the wild is beyond idiotic.

Animals don't have a desire for or a sense of "freedom".

Their concerns all relate to safety, hunger and proper living conditions (so they can breed) which thanks to all the attention were well met at the Zoo.

He no doubt will miss the zoo.

The notion animals avoid humans and human habitats is a Western myth. They LOVE being around humans provided we don't kill or poison them, YES even wild ones. Just ask the Bears in Yosemite or Yellowstone.

Only Westerners have this absurd view. Proof how wrong it is can be found in Asia. Wild animals live in the cities of India FREELY.

If all the fears we Americans have about disease and attack were true, there wouldn't be 1.2 million Indians today.

How sweet and how stupid.
In such a vast ocean the likelihood he'll find other Emperors is next to none, meaning he'll become quick prey for a whale, shark or leopard seal.

And in such a vast ocean, only human predators have mastered the art of saving a single beached Emperor penguin..so, how did he/she find us?
Even if this creature found a THOUSAND other penguins, THEY could not save him/her from any other top-level predator, seeing as it was at one time as sick as it was..further, hungry humans are far worse than any natural predator being technically advance and lacking in UNIVERSAL compassion.
If a shark or something eats this penguin, that IS what happens in the wild. The real story here is we don't KNOW that is what will happen, AND WE HUMANS for once did not eat it! THAT is an improvement.
word-to-ya-muthas

The notion the right thing to do was release him back into the wild is beyond idiotic.
Animals don't have a desire for or a sense of "freedom".

This Penguin is what we call a 'WILD' animal...you dig?
It ONLY knew freedom all of its natural life and now that it is well, it is going BACK to that natural life - a FREE life, an unencumbered life NOT tethered to humanity other than being a member of the animal kingdom:Of which, we are masters, which makes us, POTENTIALLY natures best servants and protectors! This humble creature will go back having picked up ONE LESS FEAR...and knowing as many continual pleasures as it can before its natural life ends, as it must end, as yours must end, and ours must end...try to see that! -FREEDOM-
word-to-ya-muthas

Their concerns all relate to safety, hunger and proper living conditions (so they can breed) which thanks to all the attention were well met at the Zoo.
He no doubt will miss the zoo.

A zoo? A darn zoo!...Would you MISS A JAIL...give up several million cubic kilometers of open space, family, relatives, hunting/fishing trips whenever you want, midnight swims with your mate and offspring, SEX, a mega-wide variety of seafood, and did I mention - SEX - give all this and more up JUST SO he can see YOUR FACE once a decade when you show up for a seven minute visit. He/she will get to see your kids...which it won't have a chance to make, it will eat MUSH and have a ten foot pool for a home and the fact that you have a mate just means that human females are very generous with their lives!
Look, the animal was wild, injured, it just needed a few weeks to heal - not years to grow up because its mother abandoned it, ya know mothers do that..I AM SURE you know ALL about that!
word-

The notion animals avoid humans and human habitats is a Western myth. They LOVE being around humans provided we don't kill or poison them, YES even wild ones. Just ask the Bears in Yosemite or Yellowstone.

"...ask the bears..." yeah...I see the big picture now. You believe you are Dr. Doolittle huh? OKAY, we got a live one here...erase all my posts...the luny farm DOES HAVE broadband connectivity..Darn it Physorg, can't you screen these guys..ask basic competency questions when people set up accounts or something.
word-to-ya-muthas

Only Westerners have this absurd view. Proof how wrong it is can be found in Asia. Wild animals live in the cities of India FREELY.
If all the fears we Americans have about disease and attack were true, there wouldn't be 1.2 million Indians today.

India is filled with noble and highly intelligent people...BUT...India has pockets of abject poverty that would make you scream and howl with sorrow and outrage.
Before it was eradicated, in the 1970's India had regular outbreaks of smallpox that would make front page news in Hell...western powers, whom you hate so much, not only helped destroy this plague from their country, but proceeded to eliminate this disease from this world!
Indians? Perhaps you mean native Americans and not people from India: Those people, almost purely Asia in descent, have been nearly wiped out and have inter-married so much their ancestors would not even know them now. A few remain, NOT MANY!
word-to-ya-muthas