World Penguin Day has arrived, and you can celebrate the occasion by meeting the world’s favourite flightless bird.
Birdland Park and Gardens is in party mode after one of its residents, Spike the celebrity 15-year-old King Penguin, was crowned the most popular penguin on the planet.
Spike’s achievement came just in time as the park today marks World Penguin Day.
Head keeper Alistair Keen said: “At Birdland, we are part of the European Endangered Species Programmes and I sit on the King Penguin Committee.
“We are committed to increasing the numbers and health of the endangered avian species.
“World Penguin Day is a great opportunity for us to showcase what amazing creatures king penguins are.
“Visitors can learn interesting and little-known facts about the colony at Penguin Shore and get inspired to help protect these amazing birds.”
READ MORE: Spike the Cotswold penguin crowned the world’s favourite
Birdland, in Bourton, is home to England’s only colony of king penguins, which is the only breeding group left in the UK.
The kings, the second largest species after Emperors, have been enjoying their new enclosure Penguin Shore since last summer when it reopened after an extensive redesign and renovation.
Spike, who has starred in books and television series, earned the crown of the world’s most popular penguin after winning a global competition run by Penguins International.
In last week’s final, he bested an African penguin called Mai from the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Hawaii.
The final result was incredibly close, with Spike just edging it with 50.5 per cent of the vote to Mai’s 49.5
READ AGAIN: Keeper opens up on life at Birdland
Tuesday, April 25, is World Penguin Day, which was created by American researchers who noticed that the Adelie penguins began their migration around that date each year.
The day is aimed at raising awareness of penguins, many species of which are endangered.
Today, and all days it opens, keepers at Birdland will be hosting penguin talks and feeding displays at 11am and 2.30pm.
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