'Batman star' penguin hopes to be crowned world's favourite
A Hollywood star who keepers say shared the screen with Danny DeVito and David Attenborough - is vying to become the world's most popular penguin at the grand age of 40.Seth, who lives at Birdland Park and Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, has been shortlisted for the award as part of the March of the Penguin Madness competition.He is thought to be the oldest king penguin in the world at 40 years of age.Seth's competition to become the world's most popular penguin includes Brian from The Deep in Hull, and Ike from ABQ BioPark Zoo, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with voting due to happen in rounds.
'Hollywood swagger'
Organised by Penguins International, the competition involves 48 birds from around the world, nominated by zoos, aquariums, and museums.Mr Cox says that at mealtimes Seth is fed a herring that has half a vitamin tablet in its mouth, and that the penguin is distinguished from the others due to his "celebrity strut"."Fundamentally, he is 40 years old, so it's probably a bit of arthritis, hence the fact we're giving him his medication," he said."We like to call it his Hollywood swagger, especially as he's been in the Batman Returns movie."
Mr Cox said Seth was one of "six or eight penguins" flown to Hollywood in crates of ice to star in the 1992 film."They formed part of Danny DeVito's evil penguin army in the movie," he said."You can see Seth in part of the film swimming around on a rocket launcher on his back."Mr Cox described Seth as a very caring creature, having helped one of his fellow Birdland penguins when she was struggling.
He explained: "We had an older penguin called Lily who went blind in one eye so she couldn't really see."When it was food time, he would call to her and get her to follow him as he was wandering down."In 2023, another of Seth's fellow Birdland penguins, Spike, was crowned the world's favourite penguin. The pair are among those at the Cotswolds park to have featured in David Attenborough's programme, Natural Curiosities. Voting will continue each week until one penguin is declared the most popular.
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