GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A penguin at a Michigan zoo is recovering from surgery after the animal swallowed a dime that was apparently tossed into its habitat.
According to a Facebook post, officials at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids removed the coin from the stomach of Picchu on Friday. Zoo officials had discovered a metal object in the Magellanic penguin’s stomach during a routine X-ray exam.
The zoo’s veterinary team used endoscopy equipment to remove the dime, MLive.com reported.
Officials said Picchu likely mistook the coin for the shiny appearance of a fish, according to WZZM-TV.
“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for objects to be thrown into habitats at the zoo,” zoo officials wrote on Facebook. “In this case, the silver dime closely resembled the shiny appearance of fish, a main part of a penguin’s diet.”
“As a reminder, please refrain from throwing objects and food into the animal habitats during your visit.”
