World’s smallest penguins take flight to find new life in Spain

The fairy penguins were given passports and boarding passes as they prepared to go from SEA LIFE Weymouth to SEA LIFE Benalmádena.

The Dorset facility was previously home to Europe’s only colony of fairy penguins - but 13 of the birds are now moving to southern Spain to create the second.

Staff at the Spanish center have created an enclosure for the penguins, featuring sandy terrain, large caves and lots of water to mirror their native habitat in New Zealand.

Seven smaller nesting caves have also been created to provide privacy and security for breeding pairs during mating season - allowing the colony to grow.

Before setting off, the group was given specialist health checks, including tests for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and signed off by the vet.

Custom-built crates were carefully designed for safe air travel, with secure ventilation and space for the penguins to settle in during the flight – with the birds placed next to their best companion for company.

The penguins were moved from Weymouth to Heathrow Airport, before boarding a flight to Madrid.

The move is part of SEA LIFE’s commitment to species protection - as wild fairy penguin populations face increasing pressures from climate change.

By establishing a second colony, they hope to contribute to penguin research and conservation, as well as raising awareness of the challenges the species faces in the wild.

Seb Webster, General Manager at SEA LIFE Weymouth, said: “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.”