SEA LIFE Weymouth Little penguins return to Europe

WOW - interesting, as it's all gone quiet down at Living Coasts about their proposed import. I wonder if they are involved?
 
Oh wow! Is been many years since I last went to Weymouth, must be about time for another trip :)
 
Nice one!

I do hope they have learned from past husbandry experiences (avian malaria and other diseases to which these "tropical" penguins are susceptible.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Nice one!

I do hope they have learned from past husbandry experiences (avian malaria and other diseases to which these "tropical" penguins are susceptible.
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The fact that they refer to then as the first colony of little penguins in Europe makes me question how aware they are of past problems with keeping this species.
 
I visited the Weymouth Sea Life Centre today; although I've been a number of times previously, my last visit must have been at least ten years ago.

Generally speaking, I am not very enthusiastic about Sea Life Centres but have always thought the Weymouth one was better than most of the others. I enjoyed my visit today, especially the weedy sea dragons.

It is probably not necessary to comment that today's visit was primarily to see the recently arrived little blue penguins, the only ones currently in Europe (although I have seen the species several times previously at both Antwerp Zoo and Bristol Zoo in years gone by).

The little blue penguins have an indoor pool and access to a spacious sand-covered outdoor enclosure. They were incredibly noisy; I've never known little blue penguins (or indeed any penguin species) to be so vocal; at the end of the afternoon, when all twenty were shut in their indoor accommodation, the noise they made was deafening.

NB If anyone else is planning a trip to Weymouth soon, it is advisable to book your entry tickets, in advance, on-line; this is considerably cheaper than buying them at the entrance on arrival.
 
According to a photo in The Times on Saturday (29th February) two Fairy (Blue or Little) Penguins have been born there, which is almost certainly a U.K. first. I have been unable to find further details, not even on the Sea Life website. Anyone know more?
 
zooboy said:
According to a photo in The Times on Saturday (29th February) two Fairy (Blue or Little) Penguins have been born there, which is almost certainly a U.K. first. I have been unable to find further details, not even on the Sea Life website. Anyone know more?
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Wow
 
Tim May said:
It is obviously excellent news that little blue penguins have hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Centre.

However whilst it is, I think, a UK first breeding I am sure the claim that they are the first of the species to be hatched in Europe is erroneous; little blue penguins have previously hatched in Antwerp Zoo.
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Cologne has also bred them.
 
I visited on the 20th May 2021 and it was a very wet, windy and cold day. But I really did not care as the Blue Penguins were fabulous.

The signage suggested one of the males has left/died.

The Weymouth SLC is made up of a series of separate buildings each housing a different type of habitat but with open doors both ends the wind really whistles through. It was freezing.

I saw the penguins, did a quick walk through and then rushed back to the heat of the car heater.

If you have the get in half price Carex packs from last year. they do honour these but I could not see how to do it online so I booked a slot as someone with a voucher and a nice young man did the inputting when I got to the desk.
 
I have just visited the little penguins at Weymouth. In passing I asked a member of staff how many there were but she didn't know for sure. Just wondered if anyone knew if they were increasing in number or decreasing? I know they bred a year ago six chicks which is encouraging. However I remember the Wuppertal group failed a few months after I saw them. Thanks
 
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