Pingu celebrates 30th birthday at Dudley Zoo
The fourth oldest penguin in the UK is celebrating his 30th birthday today at Dudley Zoo.
Pingu, a Humboldt penguin, is one of the Black Country zoo's founding members of the current colony and a firm favourite with staff and visitors.
The zoo's current Humboldt colony, was started in 1991, with keepers hand rearing a group of five to guarantee survival.
As well as being one of the oldest in the country, Pingu's descendants have helped start Humboldt collections around the country.
And even at his grand age, he is still guarding a nest and his female companion.
Dudley Zoo holds a large group of Humboldt, or Peruvian, penguins which is one of 17 species.
They are found along the South American coastline in areas reached by the Humboldt current, and named after German scientist, Alexander Von Humboldt, who explored the region in the late 1700s.
DZG’s colony is one of the most successful breeding groups in Europe with around 70 parent-reared Humboldts in Penguin Bay.
Adoption packages cost from £39.50 and all money raised through the scheme actively supports the zoo’s conservation programmes. For more information, call 01384 215313 or visit the website.
Dudley Zoo is reminding visitors to pre-book before they travel to the zoo, as it is fully booked, tickets can be purchased on the DZG website.
