Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Britain's oldest #penguin dies aged 37 after battle with arthritis


Pat is thought to be the second oldest penguin in Europe and was put down by zoo vets due to the pain caused by her condition

Pat the penguin
Good life: Pat the penguin at Torquay Zoo
Britain's oldest penguin has died aged 37.
Pat the Penguin died after a battle with arthritis caused by his decades of waddling around.
Pat is thought to be the second oldest penguin in Europe and was put down by zoo vets due to the pain caused by her condition.
Phil Knowling, a spokesman for Living Coasts in Torquay, Devon, said she had lived a good life.
He said: '"Pat had terrific innings thanks to good husbandry, good vet care, good food and freedom from predators.
"Her quality of life had declined because of arthritis - the only thing to do was put her to sleep."
Apex Pat the penguin
Battle: Pat had been in pain because of her arthritis
Apex Pat the penguin
Senior: Pat was Britain's oldest penguin at the age of 37
An African penguin, Pat hatched at Paignton Zoo in 1978 but moved to Living Coasts zoo in 2003.
Her toy-boy partner Eddie hatched in April 2001 - making him 14.
Living Coast operations manager Clare Rugg said Pat was a "very sweet penguin".
Apex Living Coasts Zoo in Torquay
Home: Pat lived at Living Coasts Zoo in Torquay
Pat hatched nine chicks in her lifetime and had three great-grand penguins at the zoo.
Living Coasts has the largest colony of African penguins in the UK.

source

No comments: