Happy Feet x-rays fetch $100 in Trade Me auction

X-rays of Wellington’s most famous emperor penguin Happy Feet have failed to make a big splash on Trade Me.

X-rays of Happy Feet, which was found on Te Horo beach eating sticks and sand in 2011, sold for $100 on Monday after receiving just a single bid.

The X-rays were dubbed as ’’a piece of New Zealand history’’ by the seller. Despite attracting only one bidder, the item comfortably surpassed its reserve price of $50.

Happy Feet received months of specialist care at Wellington Zoo in 2011 and tens of thousands of dollars in donations before he was deemed well enough to return to sea.

His sand and stick eating adventure in Kapiti made him sick and unable to be returned to the wild right away.

He was released into the Southern Ocean after being fitted with a tracking device so the zoo and public could follow his progress. But it stopped working after a week and the penguin has not been heard from since.

The X-rays, listed by a Trade Me member from Levin, were taken by a radiographer who was a friend of the woman.

It was suggested the images of the ‘‘little penguin that captured the nation’s heart’’ could be used for artworks.

Trade Me spokesman Logan Mudge said on Friday the images were ‘‘the most famous X-rays we have seen up for sale’’.