The one year old penguin known simply as “number 337″ that escaped from the Tokyo Sea Life Park in March was finally caught on Thursday. Two keepers from the aquatic park captured the Humboldt penguin under a bridge crossing the Edo river, in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. Thankfully he was alive and had no health problems.
Kazuhiro Sakamoto, the vice head of the aquarium, told the press that everyone was relieved the penguin was well and would be coming him. The escapee had been on the loose for over 80 days after managing to climb a four meter high rock face, and then slipping through a barbed wire fence. He had been spotted numerous times in Tokyo Bay, both by lucky onlookers and officials trying to get a hold of him. The aquatic park keepers believe the penguin was surviving by eating small fish that live in the bay, and then resting on nearby shores at night.
Even the coast guard had attempted to capture number 337, but they too were unsuccessful. Earlier this month, two patrol boats had managed to spot the bird, but after following him slowly for over an hour in an attempt to get close, he still managed to disappear. Officials aren’t sure what prompted the penguin to climb the wall to freedom, but they suspect something must have startled him.