King Penguins Join Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water from Germany
Birdland Park & Gardens, renowned for its colony of king penguins, has welcomed two new females – a significant boost for the park’s breeding and conservation efforts.
These new arrivals at the Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction are the first post-Brexit bird imports and one of the few female king penguin additions to the UK in at least 15 years.
Both penguins, hatched in Wuppertal, Germany, in 2021 and 2023, have joined the park as part of the EAZA Ex-situ Programme.
After complying fully with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) quarantine protocol, the penguins are now on show with the rest of the colony and settling in well with their new feathered friends.
Their arrival is expected to breathe new life into Birdland’s breeding programme, offering hope for future king penguin chicks and ensuring the continued vitality of this iconic colony.
"Our current female, ‘Bill’, has long been a lone queen among a male-dominated group," said head keeper Alistair Keen.
"With these two new additions, the park’s penguin dynamics are set to shift, providing an exciting new chapter for the colony and hopefully reinvigorating our breeding programme," he added.
With its combination of woodland, riverside and gardens, Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from birds of prey and parrots to cassowaries and cranes in a mix of free-flying and aviary displays.
Birdland is open daily from 10am – see if you can spot the new arrivals during a half-term visit!
➡️ Find out more and book tickets to Birdland & Jurassic Journey
Explore Gloucestershire
19 Febraury 2025
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