Gallery: penguins pop into Oxfordshire care home for Christmas visit
Team wanted to make this Christmas ‘extra special’ for residents
Care home residents have had a particularly grim time during the pandemic, but some much-needed Christmas cheer was brought to one group of pensioners – in the form of penguins.
Charlie and Pringle, two Humboldt penguins, delighted residents at Spencer Court in Oxfordshire as part of a programme of activities designed to benefit the physical and mental wellbeing of residents.
As all festive activities were cancelled due to Covid, the care home team wanted to make this Christmas “extra special for everyone”, said home manager Dorte Chandler.
Charlie, aged 24, and Pringle, aged nine, are regular visitors to care homes all around England, according to The Orders of St John Care Trust. Their visits form part of a programme of animal enrichment led by Heythrop Zoological Gardens, a private zoo and animal training centre near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
“These penguins are not only comfortable and familiar with travelling, but we believe they show positive behaviour signs when interacting with different people,” said a zoo representative.
“It is the belief of Heythrop Zoo that by bringing unusual and undomesticated species to the attention of the general public – particularly when accompanied by educational talks – they raise community awareness that indirectly aids conservation,” the zoo’s statement added.
Heythrop has a breeding group of Humboldt penguins, who originally hail from Peru and Chile. The birds are medium-sized and recognised by the black band of feathers across their chests. According to the BBC, Humboldt penguins can live up to two decades in the wild and are classed as “vulnerable to extinction”.





Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'From his election as pope in 2013, Francis sought to reform'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Israel blames 'failures' for killing of medics
speed read 14 Gaza medics and 1 U.N. employee were killed by IDF special forces
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US