Pick up a penguin! Care home residents visited by the usually arctic animals, who even wandered through the dining room

Daily Mail​

25-05-2025

Care home residents were delighted by a mood-boosting visit from some penguins this week.
Humboldt penguins Widget and Pringle waddled into Gregory House, Grantham, Lincolnshire on Wednesday.
It was part of the home's efforts to give memorable experiences to the people staying there in their old age.
Some of the residents even got hugs from Widget and Pringle who came from Amazing Animals in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, to see them.
They were happy to be stroked and dotted on as they plodded through the dining room.
Pamela Parker said 'When I heard of penguins coming to the home, I did wonder why there wasn't a paddling pool filled up for them.'
Home Manager Marie Young said: 'It was an absolute joy to see the residents' faces light up when the penguins arrived.
'We like to think outside the box and bring something different for our residents. On this occasion, I think we certainly did.'
The penguin's visit to the care home is also part of the zoo's programme of animal enrichment activity, providing mental and physical stimulus for the penguins.
It's not Widget and Pringle's first care home jaunt as the pair visited residents at Brendoncare St Giles View in Winchester, last year.
Pensioners took turns giving them a hug or even a pamper in the sink under the tap.
And the duo have even been to a wedding together, with Pringle acting as a ring-bearer.
Jen and Tom Loveland were joined by the penguins for their big day in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in February 2024.
Unsuspecting family and friends were told that Jen's brother, Adam, and Tom's sister, Carys, would be the ring-bearers.
During the ceremony, the pair pretended they forgot the wedding bands and quickly exited the room - leaving guests feeling rather uncomfortable.
However, they quickly returned with the 25-inch penguin who accompanied them down the aisle with the rings.
The visitors were obviously on their very best behaviour. Photos show the delight on the faces of the care home residents
Humboldt penguins are known for their strong swimming abilities and can reach speeds of up to 15mph.
Despite once being a plentiful species, Humboldt penguin's are now an endangered creature due to the threat of fishing and climate change.
The animals, which typically nest on islands and rocky coasts along Chile and Peru in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, usually have a black breast band, head and bill and white circles around their eyes.
Usually growing to about 26 to 28 inches long and weighing between 4-5kg, the creatures feed primarily on fish, especially anchovies, herring and smelt.