Happy Feet the penguin starts long journey home (Video)

Happy Feet, the lost emperor penguin who won the hearts of many people from all over the world, has been released Sunday after months of rehabilitation at the Wellington Zoo in New Zealand. Check out a video of the release of Happy Feet the penguin below:

Happy Feet penguin starts his swim home | Video courtesy of ITN News

On June 20, Happy Feet was found on a New Zealand beach, nearly 4,000 miles from his home in Antarctica.

He was sent to Wellington Zoo where he underwent three surgeries to remove stones and sticks from his stomach.

Regaining 18 pounds of weight after the medical procedures, Happy Feet was finally cleared for release over the weekend.

"It's very exciting for me to get him to this point where we can release him," zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla told ABC News.

According to a CBS report, the release which happened on Sunday "went remarkably smoothly, given that the boat was being tossed about in 25-foot swells in the unforgiving Antarctic ocean."

A GPS tracker has been fitted to the penguin and fans can follow his progress online via the Zoo's website.