World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
13 fairy penguins move from UK to Spain to establish second colony
Thirteen fairy penguins have moved from Dorset to southern Spain, travelling from SEA LIFE Weymouth to SEA LIFE Benalmádena.
Fairy penguins are among the world’s smallest penguins and are native to New Zealand.
The move aims to establish Europe’s second fairy penguin colony, after the Weymouth facility housed Europe’s only one.
The Spanish centre has built an enclosure with sandy ground, caves and water, along with private nesting caves for breeding pairs.
The new colony is intended to support research and conservation and raise awareness of pressures on wild populations, including climate change.
The penguins had health checks before travelling by air in specially designed crates, and the new colony is expected to grow through breeding.
Thirteen fairy penguins have moved from SEA LIFE Weymouth in Dorset to SEA LIFE Benalmádena in southern Spain.
The move aims to establish Europe’s second fairy penguin colony.
The birds travelled via Heathrow Airport and flew to Madrid.
The Spanish centre has built an enclosure with sandy terrain, caves and water, including seven smaller nesting caves.
SEA LIFE says the new colony will support conservation, research and awareness of threats to wild populations from climate change.
- Who
- Thirteen fairy penguins moved from SEA LIFE Weymouth to SEA LIFE Benalmádena.
- What
- They are moving to establish a second fairy penguin colony in Europe.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- From Weymouth, Dorset, to Benalmádena in southern Spain, travelling via Heathrow Airport and Madrid.
- Why
- To support conservation, research and awareness of threats facing wild fairy penguin populations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The penguins received health checks, including tests for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and were approved by a vet.
The group travelled from Weymouth to Heathrow Airport.
The penguins flew to Madrid before continuing to their new home in Benalmádena.
- Number moved
- 13 fairy penguins
- Origin
- SEA LIFE Weymouth, Dorset
- Destination
- SEA LIFE Benalmádena, southern Spain
- Route
- Heathrow Airport to Madrid
- Nesting caves
- 7 smaller caves were built for breeding pairs
- Goal
- Establish Europe’s second fairy penguin colony
What people are saying
This is an incredibly exciting milestone not just for SEA LIFE, but for penguin conservation, research, and education around the world.
These little birds have captured the hearts of our guests and teams for years, so while it's emotional to say goodbye to some of them, we're thrilled they'll be helping establish a thriving second colony in Spain.
We're proud to play a part in protecting the future of this amazing species through international collaboration and world–class animal care.