BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?

Subject: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:26 AM

Walking past a local pond yesterday, nice spring day, all the ducks, coots, gulls, and grebes...

got me wondering how much cooler it would look with penguins as well..

As soon as I got home I googled to see if there have ever been any released / escaped breeding colonies of penguins in the UK, and if not why not...

So far can't find any answer..

My mrs loves penguins and thinks it'd be a much better idea for a walk to the pond, chucking fish for them
as well as feeding bread to ducks...

OK.. hands up who wants penguins in their local duck pond... 🐧




[message sponsored by 'folks fed up with all the petty treacherous bollocks effing up the labour party at the moment'..
so let's think about cheerful stuff instead.. like penguins...]

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:29 AM

bread is not ideal food for wild birds - - specially when lots of people are offering it! And particularly when they are feeding young.
Better with salad, seeds, possibly hen food, meal worms (expensive tho) -- check RSPB or specialist feed suppliers

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:37 AM

In New Zealand there are penguins at least as far north as Wellington Harbour, so there may well be species that could survive in British coastal waters. (I don't think there is any freshwater penguin species anywhere, so your pond is out).

But they'd be competing with other bird species for food - like sand eels, which are already being exploited on an industrial scale so that puffins are starving. Given that we've already got puffins I'd rather keep them.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 09:08 AM

No reason why not, there are penguins on the west coast of Africa.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 10:12 AM

oops...

Penguin Island at Longleat closed after malaria outbreak

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 11:00 AM

Thriving in Cheshire.
You could get some tips on 25 April.
http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/whats-on/2017/04/world-penguin-day

Have you got the blue gloves yet?
http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/whats-on/2016/04/penguin-day

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 06:21 PM

you could farm penguins and sell them as a food to be eaten with pasta...penguini linguini.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 02:16 AM

As Jack says, there are a couple of New Zealand species that would do fine, and I suspect some South American ones too, provided there was food for them after all those years of Common-Market nets.

The last time I went fishing in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, there was a Little Blue Penguin fishing for itself in the boat's shadow, where some small fish were trying to hide. It knew it was a boat, too, and was eying the humans carefully between dives.
There are often small fish hiding under floating debris. I've even had dolphin feeding the same way. A rare treat.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 02:48 AM

The penguins are my favorite exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo. SF has a maritime climate that seems fairly similar to London. A keeper hand-feeds them fish on a regular schedule, with vitamin-supplemented fish for particular penguins that need supplements. They thrive on the fish - but they need a lot of fish. Each penguin gets 2 or 3 six-inch fish a day.
About 15 minutes before feeding time, they gather in a circle and start chanting - almost seems like a singaround. They're very enthusiastic about eating, too.
What do the white pelicans eat in London?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Stu
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 09:15 AM

"What do the white pelicans eat in London?"

Muwhahahaha!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 08:59 PM

A penguin waddled into a bar and ordered a pint of Guinness - the barman expressed no surprise, pulled him a pint and said, that'll be five pounds.
After a while the barman said, "We don't get many penguins in here"
"I'm not surprised at five pounds a pint", replied the penguin.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Apr 17 - 01:02 AM

it would nice if we had an English penguin.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Apr 17 - 02:38 AM

"it would nice if we had an English penguin."

with a monocle and top hat... ???

or a flat cap and a whippet... ???

it all comes down to breeding and class... innit.... 😜

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: JHW
Date: 07 Apr 17 - 04:51 PM

If they can sing English Folk Songs surely they'll survive

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Apr 17 - 07:21 PM

Gay penguins in Germany:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/04/14/zookeepers-wanted-these-gay-penguins-to-breed-with-females-but-they-only-had-eyes-for-eachother/

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Ernest
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 01:53 AM

Jack,

are you suggesting that these penguins would be better off in the UK?

Getting my coat....

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 02:47 AM

In 2000 we visited Punta Tombo in Argentina where there is a colony of 1000s of Magellan penguins. I didn't notice that is was any colder than current UK weather.

That was quite a day - collected from hotel in Madryn at 6am, 2 hour drive to Punts Tombo (awesome) most of which was on unpaved roads, then 2 hour drive back to Madryn airport for flight to Rio de Gallegos, 7 hour drive accross Argentina to hotel by Perito Moreno Glacier - again awesome!!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 06:31 AM

What sort of monsters do you take us for - we wouldn't make our penguins stay out in inclement weather.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: robomatic
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 11:11 AM

Don't recall that Mr. Popper had any problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 11:30 AM

"What sort of monsters do you take us for - we wouldn't make our penguins stay out in inclement weather"

You're absolutly right, wouldn't dream of it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 01:48 PM

They wouldn't want to live in ponds anyway. No reason a penguin colony couldn't do well living on the coast.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 02:15 PM

"They wouldn't want to live in ponds anyway..

Has anyone asked them...???

our local pond is right across the road from a newsagents / general store, and fish & Chip Shop...

It's more amenities than they'd get anywhere in the South Pole....

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 02:20 PM

"No reason a penguin colony couldn't do well living on the coast."

Magellan penguin colony

in Argentina.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 03:14 PM

I think so far, the general consensus is..

"Yes.. we want penguins..." ✔

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 03:17 PM

They seem to do what they're told:

Show us the way, O Mighty Leader!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 05:48 PM

it would be great if English Emperor Penguins were really big - like 6ft tall. you could throw them a conger eel, and they'd eat it down in one - glug!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 06:08 PM

No Jack. I don't see it with cats. I think our little female cat would run a mile and our other cat is to old to care. Mewan did fancy herself as a stalker of pheasants (not she'd do anything but they usually move away) but a cock sent her packing the other day.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 08:29 PM

Penguins like their water salty. They are seagoing birds, all of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 24 Apr 17 - 09:18 PM

Yesterday I saw 2 seagulls, miles inland, shagging on a roof across the road from that pond..

It would have been much funnier if it was penguins...

But they'd have needed a ladder, and a better head for heights...

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 01:52 AM

'Penguins like their water salty.'

a commonly held fallacy - a little on the rim of their tequilla glass, a fondness for anchovies on pizza, and oral sex has contributed to this misunderstanding.

however when given the choice most penguins go for still evian.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 03:23 AM

Since they are flightless, I should imagine they'd be prey to foxes.
Their ground nests would be raided by many kinds of creatures as well.

I was amazed to read here that penguins can die from avian malaria. Didn't know it was a Thing here in UK. Very sad.

It's always a bit dodgy to move species around the world then release them into the wild. They inevitably have an impact on local wildlife, and probably suffer themselves. Only example which seems to be an exception is the wallaby. There are lots of wild wallabies hopping around in various parts of the UK, and they seem to get along without causing problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 10:20 AM

perhaps if we put them the same place as the wallabies, they would pick up a few survival tips.

A bit like those people who live in the wild with Bear Grylls and learn to survive on pieces of shit, worms for protein and use their own urine for aftershave.

not that I'd expect a penguin to let his personal standards slip in such a manner.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 11:17 AM

I can just imagine if they became good mates, the wallaby might let the penguin ride in his pouch.

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 11:35 AM

Sen - Foxes versus Penguins


Movie Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AV2ZYlxvI

..and the real life story...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/15/oddball-the-dog-who-saved-a-penguin-colony-and-inspired-a-film-dies-at-15

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Apr 17 - 12:07 PM

Oh punk, how sweet! And what a good idea! I'm now wondering if free-range poultry farmers here in UK use dogs to protect their flocks from foxes?
I know they shut the hens into barns at night, but I've seen foxes around during the daytime, and I expect they take a few chickens 'en passant'.
I've never seen that breed, a maremma, before. I've looked it up and it seems it originates in Italy. Beautiful dogs, and very cuddly!

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 06:16 AM

so the manifesto pledges we're looking for

1. free steroids for penguins - so they can stand up to foes and foxes - foreign and foreign.
2. protection for penguin settlements - security teams with dogs until English Penguins reach a height of 5ft 10inches

Subject: RE: BS: Can Penguins survive in the wild in UK ?
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Apr 17 - 06:31 AM

Hahaha Big Al! Gigantic penguins roaming the countryside!
Makes me think of that Wallace and Grommit film 'The Wrong Trousers'. Though the lodger penguin actually turned out to be a diamond thief chicken in disguise.