KEY POINTS:
A true one-eyed Cantabrian has been given a second chance at life after a nasty run-in with a boat.
Roxy, the one-eyed white flippered penguin, was rescued from the waters off Canterbury's Banks Peninsula, where she was unlikely to survive, and given a new home at Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre.
She will join a group of 15 little blue penguins suffering various disabilities at the centre's $2.8 million new penguin encounter, including a blind penguin named Elvis who relies on rangers' voices to find her way around.
Roxy was found with a head injury believed to have been caused by a marine vessel such as a jet ski or speed boat, which resulted in her losing her right eye.
She was rushed to Banks Peninsula couple Francis and Shireen Helps, who have a long history of looking after white flippered penguins.
After Roxy's injuries were treated by local veterinarian Pauline Howard, it was decided that Roxy had little chance of surviving in the wild and needed a safe new home.
An approach was made to the International Antarctic Centre. With the Department of Conservation's support, a deal was struck to provide her with a new home.
"We are delighted to be able to provide a safe and secure home for Roxy," said centre director Richard Benton. "When local penguins are injured in the wild and cannot be released it is good to be able to help."
Roxy had been in quarantine inside the New Zealand Penguin Encounter, where a dedicated team of rangers nursed her back to health.
Yesterday she met the other penguins.
"The other penguins were starting to call to her. It was really cute," said centre spokeswoman Wendy Smith.
White flippered penguins have recently been classed as endangered.
