The joyful return of 49 penguins humanely rescued nearly 2 months after a 400-ton oil spill at sea.

Waddling as fast as their tiny legs can carry them, these excited penguins have good reason to be happy.

Their exciting flight out to sea on Mount Maunganui Beach in Tauranga, New Zealand, after nearly two months in human captivity.

As the hatches of the yellow and blue shipping containers are opened by scores of wildlife workers and schoolchildren, some of the 49 little blue penguins cautiously peek out before emerging onto the sand.

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Happy feet: These excited birds were among 49 Little Blue Penguins that were released back into the wіɩd after months in captivity following an oil spill

Out of box: Penguins are released onto the beach at Mt Maunganui in Tauranga by a group of schoolchildren and wildlife experts.

A helping hand: this little blue penguin was encouraged by a social worker to return to the ocean after nearly two months in captivity.

With a mixture of confusion and excitement, some ran towards the sea, others searched for their “friends” and flapped their wings in a circle before heading towards the water, where they drifted with the waves.

They were the first group to be returned to sea as part of a phased care program over a period of several weeks.

Wildlife officials treated about 343 penguins after they were covered in tar and feathers when a cargo ship ran aground on a reef near Tauranga in early October, causing they are covered in oil.

The 775-foot-long ship named Rena ran aground on rocks and its forward hull spilled about 400 tons of fuel into the ocean..

Ready, steady, go: Despite their obvious delight at being released back into the wіɩd, some of the birds appeared momentarily confused as they emerged from their transport boxes

On the run: These penguins were among 343 rescued after the Rena oil spill claimed the lives of more than 2,000 seabirds..

Studied: The penguins have all been microchipped so their movements can be monitored after their гeɩeаѕe into the wіɩd

Oil spill: The Rena cargo ship was responsible for the worst environmental disaster in New Zealand’s history, sending around 400 tonnes of fuel into the ocean.

It was New Zealand’s worst marine disaster and killed more than 2,000 seabirds

But these penguins were lucky and although they were a little weaker after being cleaned and pampered by wildlife sanctuary staff, they were always destined to return. to the ocean.

Wildlife response manager Kerri Morgan said it was important that the penguins were not kept in captivity for too long as they could develop diseases and ulcers.

“It was quite a stressful and long process to get here,” she said. »

The penguins were microchipped so they could be tracked after death..