Land-loving penguin draws crowds

Kentucky prefers the sidelines

A penguin with a fear of water has been drawing huge crowds to a zoo in Staffordshire.

Blackbrook Zoological Park said last weekend was its busiest yet, after the plight of Kentucky appeared in the national newspapers.

Stuart Chapman, a keeper at the park in Winkhill, said penguins were "not waterproof" when they moulted and the experience had put Kentucky off water.

"We try to entice him into the water with food," he said.

Mr Chapman said Kentucky had a "bad moult".

"So after his moult he didn't want to get in too much," he said.

The parks' keepers try to feed him in the water, but usually end up putting his food on the rocks, he said.

Meanwhile, visitor numbers were about 10 times higher than average at the weekend, the park said.

Mr Chapman added: "Everyone asks 'where's Kentucky, the frightened penguin?'"

Kentucky occasionally swims, but mainly stays on the rocks watching the other penguins who spend hours in the water.

Mr Chapman said it was likely Kentucky's fear of water would remain with him for the rest of his life.