Penguins in no hurry to get wet!
The UK’s only two Maganellic penguin chicks are refusing to get their feet wet!
The fluffy pair, who hatched at Blackpool Zoo just eight weeks ago, seem to be suffering from a spot of hydrophobia.
Keepers were encouraged when the chicks started to appear at the front of the nest in mid-July and it was expected that they would be starting to show interest in the pool by now.
However, their flippers have remained planted firmly on dry ground and keepers have been left wondering when they will take the plunge.
Luke Minns, Head Keeper at Blackpool Zoo, said: “We were very excited when the penguins hatched as they are part of the only group of Maganellic penguins in the UK.
“Mum, Benjy, and dad, Sata, are fantastic parents and the process has been very natural, which indicates that the chicks will soon get over this initial hydrophobia.
“All animals develop at their own rate so we aren’t worried at all. There are 12 adults in the group, and every single one of them loves nothing better than to glide through the water, so we are sure that the chicks will follow suit very soon.”
Maganellic penguins came to Blackpool Zoo in 2009 after the multi-award winning attraction invested £400,000 in a state of the art home, which forms part of the £1m Active Oceans Arena.
It was the first time in over 12 years that Blackpool had housed penguins and it is the only zoo in the UK, and just one of only six in Europe, to keep the species of ‘warm weather’ penguins.
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Pictures show: The penguins chicks. Please click on below links to download images.
More information about Blackpool Zoo
A bumper year of momentous first time births, huge investment and a hat-trick of awards saw Blackpool Zoo’s visitor numbers hit new record heights in 2010.
An investment of over £1million during the year led to the grand opening of the UK’s biggest sea lion pool, which completes the zoo’s Active Oceans attraction, a brand new Wallaby Walkabout and a redeveloped home for the zoo’s resident Aardvarks Laurel and Arnie.
Blackpool Zoo won three prestigious awards during 2010. Visit Blackpool crowned Blackpool Zoo its Visitor Attraction of the Year, The Be Inspired Business Awards hailed it Tourism Business of the Year and it was also voted Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards.
Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.
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