Humans aren’t the only ones who have gotten a little bit bored during the novel coronavirus pandemic. As it turns out, zoo animals have had to adjust to their new routines as well.
The Newquay Zoo sits inside Trenance Leisure Park in Newquay, England. It contains over 130 different animal species, including a group of Humboldt penguins that are always popular with visitors.
These adorable birds are incredibly social creatures who thrive when they’re interacting with the world around them. When the zoo had to close its doors to keep everyone safe, the animals quickly became listless and bored.
Their caretakers began searching for unique ways to keep their minds sharp while encouraging the kind of natural behavior they would exhibit in the wild.
Enter their Amazon wish list! Back in 2014, staff members discovered that the penguins (along with a few other animals) really love chasing bubbles! So they added a bubble maker to their list. Luckily, someone selected the machine and had it sent to them right when they needed it most!
Videos shared on the Newquay Zoo’s social media pages show the penguins romping around their enclosure, gleefully chasing down bubbles as they float in the air.
Zookeeper Dan Trevelyan explained that since penguins are predators by nature, they have an instinct to run after things. Not to mention, the bubbles give them plenty of motivation to move, which makes for great exercise!
Since the bubbles are nontoxic and utterly harmless, they’re literally good, clean fun! The whole encounter also happens to be adorable!
What a great solution to a complicated problem! To the person who donated the bubble machine, we have to thank you. You’ve given us all a gift!
Watch the penguins play with their new toy in the video below, and don’t forget to share this story to make someone smile.
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