A Humboldt penguin who lost her ability to waddle has learned to stand on her own feet again thanks to a unique idea from Dudley zookeepers – a specially designed baby bouncer.
Flop hatched in April, and was reared by Dudley zoo’s bird care team after her mother died and her dad started leaving the nest for long periods of time.
A few weeks later, she developed a limp and within 24 hours she could no longer support her own weight. Flop was rushed to the vets where blood tests revealed she was suffering a reaction to an infection, and she was given medication.
Over time, the penguin’s appetite decreased, she became withdrawn, and staff at the Black Country zoo feared her survival and quality of life looked bleak.
In a desperate bid to save her, staff came up with the idea of using the penguin equivalent of a baby bouncer, which they handmade for her, during feeding times.
They found that, as Flop couldn’t stand, all her weight was on her front which made consuming and digesting fish uncomfortable, and was putting pressure on her internal organs.
They also constructed a unique treadmill and adapted a baby walker for the penguin, leaving her in an upright position for supervised periods of time to get her used to standing again.
Gradually over time, Flop started using her feet to try to push herself up, lifting her head and stumbling forward and, eventually, she began standing upright by herself.
The keepers also received advice from Toronto zoo, where workers had come across a similar case, and brought in an animal physiotherapist who taught staff a series of exercises they could do with Flop to build her strength.
She will now gradually be returned to the main penguin colony.
“She will always be smaller and lighter than the rest of our penguins, and the slight hunch in her back will probably never completely disappear,” the zoo said.
“But thanks to her determination and the dedication of our bird keepers, Flop, our very special penguin has found her waddle and we can’t wait to watch how she adapts to any challenges that come her way in the future.”
