Keepers were distraught when 15 birds became seriously ill with malaria and a respiratory bug before dying
Tragedy: Penguins at Paradise Wildlife Park
A colony of endangered zoo penguins has almost been wiped out after it was hit by two deadly diseases.
Keepers
were distraught when 15 birds became seriously ill with malaria and a
respiratory bug before dying at Paradise Wildlife Park.
The tragedy comes just days after its famous tiger Indy and snow leopard Aron passed away.
It also follows an announcement by London zoo last week that six of its penguins had died from malaria.
Lynn
Whitnall, director of Paradise Wildlife Park, said: “It’s very sad but
these things do happen quite frequently with penguins unfortunately.
"They
are quite nervous animals and don’t like to live in small groups so
when one was struck, it seemed the rest all started to worry and panic.
“Although
we do medicate against disease, there was nothing that could be done.
We are now keeping our remaining five penguins secluded.”
The colony at Paradise in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, is mostly made up of endangered African Jackasses. Scene; Paradise Wildlife Park
At least one contracted avian malaria over the summer. The others died from aspergillosis disease, a respiratory infection.
A
team of scientists and vets have been brought in to investigate ahead
of the park importing a fresh batch of penguins from a zoo in Holland.
Bosses have now had to scrap the £99 penguin paradise experience.
Linda
Cole, 49, who booked the treat for her 50th birthday next month, said:
“The zoo did kindly offer to swap my voucher for the Tickle a Tapir day
out or a Meet the Meerkats, but it was only penguins I wanted to see.
"Naturally I feel terrible for the poor penguins.”
Paradise, described as the country’s “most interactive zoo”, has more than 400 animals.
Indy the tiger was put down after a tumour was found. Aron developed a bad swelling on his leg.
The six penguins at London Zoo died in August. Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans.
The Penguin Camera is located on Torgersen Island (64°46’S, 64°04’W), off the coast of Anvers Island and less than a mile from Palmer Station. Torgersen Island is home to a colony of Adélie penguins numbering approximately 2,500. This camera is seasonal and operates primarily from October to February, the Adélie breeding season. The camera is solar-powered and may sometimes experience brief outages due to inclement weather. School classrooms and other educational demonstrations will often take control of the camera, moving it to gain better views of the colony.
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