Rare baby penguins at the National Sea Life Centre have been enjoying their very first Christmas experience with a visit from Santa, who delivered them some squeaky festive toys as part of their enrichment.
‘Gentoo penguins are naturally very curious creatures, so we try and encourage this behaviour by introducing fun new toys for them to play with into their environment,’ Penguin Keeper Hayley Roberts commented. ‘It helps to nurture their natural inquisitive behaviour.’
‘Santa was of course delighted to pay them a visit; their cold climate meant he felt right at home. For the babies it’s the first time they’ve encountered Santa - they are very excited as they’ve been good all year!’
Nicknamed Hulk and Dumpling for their respective sizes at birth, the two chicks are now over 6 months old. The rare penguin pair were the first to hatch at the aquarium as part of a global breeding programme after Gentoo penguin numbers declined rapidly. Their parents crossed continents to conceive, coming all the way to Birmingham from as far as Canada and New Zealand.
For further information about the National Sea Life Centre’s ‘Breed, Rescue, Protect’ conservation programme or to book tickets to see the penguins over the festive season, visit: www.sealife.co.uk/birmingham
