VIDEO: Penguins rescued from N.Z. oil spill released

Forty-nine blue penguins have been released back into the wild on a New Zealand beach.

They were rescued after a cargo ship ran aground early last month, spilling 350 tonnes of oil into the ocean.

The penguins are the first of 340 that are being cleaned up and released. All have had a microchip implanted so they can be monitored for the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, salvage operations are continuing on the ship.