Lovely Jubbly!

Penguin Chicks named in Honour of Classic TV Comedy

A trio of penguin chicks at Birdland have been named after characters from classic BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses, as the Cotswolds attraction marked Penguin Awareness Day this month.

Humboldt penguins Del Boy, Rodney and Raquel, hatched at Birdland in 2025 and were christened following a public vote.

The light-hearted names continue a tradition at the Cotswolds attraction of blending humour with conservation.

Early last year, two newly arrived king penguins were named French and Saunders, marking Comic Relief’s 40th anniversary and Birdland’s long running support of Comic Relief.

Earlier this year, Head Keeper Alistair Keen returned from a conservation mission to southern Peru.

He spent several weeks volunteering in Peru at one of the most important seabird breeding sites in South America, Punta San Juan, which is one of Peru’s largest colonies of Humboldt penguins.

Working alongside Peruvian scientists and international researchers, Al helped monitor penguin populations, survey seabirds and sea lions, and construct more than 100 artificial nesting boxes designed to protect eggs and chicks from predators and rising temperatures.

“It was an incredible experience,” Al said. “We were collecting vital data and building nests that will give Humboldt penguins a real chance. Seeing that work on the ground was genuinely moving.”

Humboldt penguins are under growing pressure from climate change, overfishing, El Niño events and avian influenza, with numbers at Punta San Juan falling sharply in recent years

Birdland’s involvement builds on its partnership with Penguins International, which began when the park’s much loved king penguin Spike won their global March of the Penguins Madness competition in 2023.

Since then, Birdland has helped fund population surveys and raise awareness of the species’ plight.

“Giving penguins names helps people connect with them,” Al added. “But it also opens the door to much bigger conversations. Every penguin matters, whether it’s here in the Cotswolds or on the wild coast of Peru.”

Birdland will continue to support the Punta San Juan Programme through fundraising, awareness and future field collaborations.