Penguin proves to be souvenir too far

A Japanese tourist has been charged with trying to abduct a rare penguin and for disturbing the world's only mainland albatross breeding colony, on the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand.

Takasiko Yamasaki, 30, appeared in court yesterday after police found a Blue penguin inside a bag in his rented car.

The blue penguin is a protected species which nests at sites along the peninsula, below the cliff-top Taiaroa Head albatross colony.

Mr Yamasaki has been charged under New Zealand's Wildlife Act with abducting the penguin and with unlawfully entering the enclosed yard of the colony.

- AP, Dunedin