The penguin appears to have become somewhat confused

The penguin, native to the Strait of Magellan region of Chile, swam all the way to Peru's Paracas national reserve.

Scientists say the bird appeared to have made the 5,000km (3,000-mile) journey alone.

They say the penguin must have "got off course" to end up just 14 degrees south of the equator.

Discrimination

Scientists say they fear that the solitary Magellanic penguin may not be accepted by some of the area's 4,000 Humboldt penguins.

Biologist David Orosco told AFP news agency that the native birds may even try to reject the penguin.

"Conditions in the park are not the ones it is used to. They usually seek out their own species, and it could suffer discrimination," Mr Orosco said.

The penguin, found by a fisherman, managed the epic journey suffering only a small wound on its wing.

Mr Orosco said he was trying to contact colleagues in the penguin's home country.

"It would be better for it to go to Chile," he said.