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Dad Maurice's fishy celebration
AS DADS up and down the country enjoyed being pampered by loved ones on Sunday, Maurice – a Humboldt penguin from Drusillas Park, enjoyed a large helping of his favourite fishy treats, after becoming a father for the first time this year.
Humboldt penguins are monogamous, staying with the same partner for life. They lay one or two eggs which both sexes take it in turn to incubate for a period of approximately 39 days.
For the past few months Maurice has been working tirelessly, together with his companion Lambrini to feed and raise their chick.
Otho hatched in the zoo at the beginning of April and since then he has been slowly finding his flippers, under the watchful guidance of his ppppperfect parents.
This week Maurice's hard work finally paid off as Otho found his sea legs by swimming alone for the very first time.
This launch to independence could not have come at a better time, allowing his dad the opportunity to take life a little easier in the week he celebrated his first ever Father's Day.
In the wild, Humboldt penguins are found off the west coast of South America, in Peru and northern Chile where they are threatened by pollution, overfishing of their prey species, hunting and habitat destruction.
The group at Drusillas Park is part of an International Breeding Programme created to secure the future survival of the species.
Zoo director Christine Smith said, "Penguins have always been a favourite resident with our visitors and are in fact the most commonly adopted animal at the park.
"We have no doubt the newest addition will prove just as popular and will be winning peoples' hearts in no time at all.
"As for Maurice, he has done an excellent job of raising Otho and thoroughly deserved to be spoilt along with the nation's dads at the weekend."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
