Pickles The Penguin At Living Coast Aquarium

By Philip Knowling 

Torquay, UK - A penguin chick hand-reared by zoo keepers after a family squabble has been named Pickles.

Keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay took in the African penguin chick when it became clear it wasn’t getting as much food as its older sibling. The chick lived the highlife for nearly 4 months, nestling indoors in a cosy den with a cuddly penguin toy for company. It returned to Penguin Beach once it was big enough to take care of itself.

Living Coasts senior head keeper Tony Durkin said: “Pickles has settled back into the colony with no problem at all. This bird is a real character – friendly and inquisitive, walking around in the public area and posing for photos with visitors. Our Penguin Patrollers keep an eye out, but Pickles is becoming a real star. At the same time, this is a good, healthy bird, and – despite all the human contact - still very much a penguin. It was a very successful hand-rearing.” 

In due course keepers will perform a DNA test to find out which sex Pickles is.

Visitors to Torquay’s coastal zoo and the general public were invited to suggest names. Among those sent in were Cuddles, Fang, Tiny Tim, Chickadee, Winston, Pengy, Lucas and Jack Sprat. Living Coasts is a registered charity. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.

www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
www.livingcoasts.org.uk
 
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. Registered office: Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU. Registration number 792877. Registered charity number 300923. Place of incorporation: Companies House, Cardiff.