King penguin lays park's first egg in six years

A king penguin egg has been laid at a bird park in Gloucestershire for the first time in six years.

The 289g (10oz) egg was laid by a younger female king penguin named French at Birdland Park and Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water earlier this week.

A spokesperson for the park said the "precious egg" had to be moved to an incubator for safety reasons after the father, Frank, positioned it between his feet rather than balancing it in the correct position on top of them.

Head of living collection Alistair Keen said: "The egg is a little smaller than we would normally expect, but nature has a habit of surprising us and we're keeping everything crossed."

King penguins are among the most challenging birds to breed, according to the park.

It takes about two months for the eggs to hatch and nearly a year and a half for the chicks to fledge.

But if all goes well, it will be the attraction's first king penguin chick since 2014.

Keen said the father Frank wass the "colony's most experienced breeding male".

"French has reached breeding age for the first time and Frank has an outstanding track record as a parent, having previously fathered Spike," he said.

"Frank is actually about eight years older than king penguins would typically live in the wild, so while the odds of fertility are lower, they are certainly not impossible."

He said although there was "cautious optimism about the chances of success" it was an "exciting milestone for the colony".

"Regardless of what happens, seeing this pair produce an egg after six years is wonderful news and an encouraging sign for the future of the colony."

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