A humboldt penguin
But now a colony of 20 homboldt penguins are set to become the latest addition to a West Wales tourist attraction.
Folly Farm, in Pembrokeshire, wants to invest £500,000 to create a new specially-developed salt water pool.
If approved, the development would create two full-time jobs, four part-time jobs and further four seasonal jobs.
Folly Farm managing director Chris Ebsworth said: “This is something we’ve been working on for about three years and a development we are really exciting about.
“A key element of the project is a specially designed salt water pool that will allow us create a natural marine environment for the birds to live in.
“It’s good for the birds and breeding and they will be part of a managed breeding programme. If approved, the development would take around six to eight months to complete.”
Mr Ebsworth said the project was part of the attraction’s ongoing investment programme.
“We reinvest profits back into the business to keep it fresh as with a 70 per cent return visitor rate we can't afford to stand still,” he added.
“We are confident that this would be a huge draw for extra tourists. Penguins really capture people’s imagination.”
He said the biggest problems would be securing the penguins from other zoos and sourcing the huge amounts of fish they need to feed, with two tonnes of stock needed at all times.
Mr Ebsworth said there was also a lot of scope for education, especially with the county’s schools.
In 2011, Folly’s interactive exhibit won a BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aqauriums) award for Best Education Project.
The attraction is already home to more 50 different species of animal, including hosting the only giraffes in the country, as well as zebras and meerkats.
Despite the difficult financial climate, Mr Ebsworth said visitor numbers were up on this time last year with more than 18,000 visiting the attraction over the jubilee weekend.
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