Day 268: Opus Is Home!

Well, he’s really a puffin and I don’t know if any of the arrivals are indeed named Opus.  Anyway,

Huzzah! The Penguins And Otters Are Back At The Aquarium!

Nineteen African blackfooted penguins and two sea otters that were rescued from a New Orleans aquarium after Hurricane Katrina [and had been living at the Monterey Bay Aquarium since September] returned home Monday on a cargo flight donated by FedEx Corp.

The evacuees arrived early Monday afternoon at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where they were welcomed on a purple carpet by a brass band, before returning to the aquarium … “They are in their exhibit now and they seem very happy to be home,” [FedEx spokesperson Ryan] Furby said. “They’re swimming around. They seem to be feeling well.”

… The New Orleans aquarium was expected to reopen over Memorial Day weekend.

Track The Penguins at FedEx.com and watch the little Flash animation!  (Also see FedEx’s more extraordinary shipments.)

And here I had shed tears under the impression that the penguins had perished in the scorching heat after the storm, along with most of the other sea creatures.  This is great news for the city!  People and politics be damned – I feel better now just hearing this.  As my mother always says, animals are pure and voiceless creatures that need our sponsorship and affection.  When we bring them into our realm, it’s up to us to provide their care.

A member of the neworleans LiveJournal community (are you ready for the alliteration?) posted this picture of a precious penguin named Patience perambulating down the purple path.  Be still my wingless heart!  I wonder if the penguins were frightened by all of the humans and strange tooting noises as they walked off the plane.