A celebrity penguin from the Cotswolds is in contention to be named the world’s most popular flightless bird.
Spike, a king penguin at Birdland with over 15,000 Facebook followers, has made it through to the final of Penguins International’s ‘March of the Penguins Madness’ challenge.
The competition has seen Spike see off competitors from as far afield as Australia, America and Canada.
Now, the 15-year-old bird faces one final challenge as he goes up against an African penguin called Mai from the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Hawaii.
Spike’s keepers are urging people to get behind the king penguin’s bid to become the world’s most popular penguin.
Birdland’s head keeper Al Keen said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the support Spike has got so far and it’s amazing he has reached the final.
“There’s quite a contrast between the Cotswolds and a luxury resort in Hawaii but we’re confident, with the British public’s help, we can ruffle a few feathers and get him crowned king penguin.
“Spike is a real personality and we have a fantastic bond with him, having been hand-reared by the keepers here in 2007 after being abandoned as an egg by his parents.
“His character makes him one of the stars of the show at Birdland and if he becomes the world’s most popular penguin, it’ll be a real feather in his cap.”
READ MORE: Keeper opens up on life at Birdland
Spike is one of the country’s best-known penguins, having starred alongside Sir David Attenborough as part of the ‘Natural Curiosities’.
Other television highlights include appearances on the shows Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud, Junior Vets and Escape to the Country.
He has also starred in adverts for LG and an Icelandic bank.
In addition to his television work, Spike has appeared in numerous calendars, on greetings cards and he even has a double-page spread in a natural history book.
ALSO READ: Four more penguins die at Cotswold attraction after suspected malaria outbreak
Penguins International is a non-profit organisation committed to preserving and protecting penguins throughout the world.
Voting for the winner opens online on Sunday, April 16, and runs until Tuesday, April 18, with the result being announced on Thursday.
To vote, visit Penguins International's website, Facebook and Instagram.
You can also follow Spike on Facebook (@SpikeKingPenguin), Twitter (@SpikeKingPeng), and Instagram (@spike_the_king_penguin).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here