4 penguins perish in freak Texas truck accident
This is a strange, sad story, although thankfully most of the animals in the crash were saved. 4 penguins perish in freak Texas truck accident Octopus unhurt, exotic fish not as lucky en route to temporary home SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Twenty-one penguins were rescued on a hot east Texas highway on Tuesday after a truck carrying the wildlife to a temporary home south of Houston overturned, said a state trooper. Four penguins and dozens of exotic fish were killed in the accident, including three penguins that were hit by passing motorists, said Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Richard Buchanan. “The rest of the penguins kind of stayed together in the ditch.” The truck, also carrying an octopus that was uninjured, was bound for Moody Gardens, a tourist destination in Galveston, an hour south of Houston, a resort spokeswoman said. The wildlife was being transported to Texas from the Indianapolis Zoo while the zoo’s ocean exhibit is being remodeled, said Jerri Hamacheck of Moody Gardens. The trooper said it was the oddest traffic accident he had ever handled. “We’ve worked several wrecks involving cows, horses, pigs, even fish, but this is the first where the live animals were penguins.” He said he was glad the accident was not worse. “There was another truck full of snakes and alligators that was an hour ahead of them, so luckily we didn’t have to deal with the alligators,” Buchanan said. The first truck arrived safely in Galveston by late afternoon, Hamacheck said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14254314/?GT1=8404

Odd and even odder still I live outside San Antonio and did not see this on the news

I found this update at the Texas Cable News website. Surviving penguins get TLC at Moody Gardens MARSHALL, Texas -- The penguins that survived a harrowing crash in Marshall, Texas, Tuesday arrived at Galveston's Moody Gardens several hours later. The ones that were injured when the truck overturned are being treated and all of them are getting plenty of tender loving care after their ordeal. According to Moody Garden officials, a King penguin with a broken wing was to have surgery Wednesday afternoon. Kelly Hodge carries a penguin to safety after the truck she was driving overturned near Marshall. The rig was hauling penguins, exotic fish and birds to Moody Gardens when the accident happened on U.S. Highway 59, eight miles north of Marshall. The Department of Public Safety said one penguin and all of the fish died in the accident. Three more penguins were run over and killed by passing vehicles. The truck was transporting animals from the Indianapolis Zoo, where their exhibit space is being renovated. When the truck slipped off the road shoulder, driver Kelly Hodge tried to veer back — then overcorrected. Hodge was transported to Marshall Regional Medical Center. A passenger suffered slight injuries. Twenty-one penguins survived, although some were treated for minor injuries. The surviving penguins arrived at Moody Gardens Tuesday night. Buchanan told the Marshall News Messenger this was the first penguin wreck he has worked. He said the truck was carrying three types of penguins, including Gentoo, King and Rockhopper penguins. Marshall veterinarian Dr. John Allred was called to the scene to help treat the penguins. "I treated one with a broken wing," Allred told the Messenger. "Amazingly, another penguin was found alive under the wreckage and survived." Video: Penguins arrive at Moody Gardens http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/houston/stories/khou060809_mh_penguinsgalveston.aa36e97.html