Fugitive Penguin Finally Captured in Tokyo [VIDEO]

A fugitive penguin that's been on the run for 82 days has finally been caught by police and returned to the Tokyo Sea Life Park from which it escaped.

The one year old Humboldt penguin that originates from Peru does not have a name but is simply known as No.337. The penguin managed to escape after scaling a four metre rock face and skirting a barbed-wire fence in its bid for freedom in March. After that great escape, a frantic search was conducted by the aquarium as it was feared the animal would escape from the city. Before his capture the last known sighting of 337 was on May 7, when a coastguard recorded footage of the penguin swimming by the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo Bay.

The game was finally up for 337 after reports came in that the Penguin was spotted along the Edogawa river, and police quickly reacted to capture the elusive animal. Confirming the penguin's presence along the river at 3:30, officials waited 2 hours before making the decisive move.

Deputy Director of the Sea Life Park, Kazuhiro Sakamoto, stated that, "We successfully caught the penguin who was at the river bank at 5:30 with our bare hands."

Concerned keeper Tatsuya Yamamoto, said that No.337 was in good condition.

"It is healthy and looks good. We weighed it just now and its weight was about the same as other healthy penguins. We just have to wait for it to calm down now."

Not the sharpest of animals, it was only after being captured that the penguin realised that its days of freedom were over.

"At the point when we caught it, the penguin didn't realise what was happening and did not really threaten or attack us. As time passed and it grasped the situation it was in, it started threatening and became agitated," Yamamoto added.

Despite the penguin's protestations, it is reportedly healthy and in good physical shape. According to the aquarium's website, the animal's health will continue to be monitored before he is displayed to the public again.