2nd September 2010

WEYMOUTH: Bonsai has his roots planted firmly at home

by Harry Walton (Photo by Geoff Moore)

BONSAI, a full-grown Humboldt penguin chick, just won’t leave home.
In human terms Bonsai, who was born last Christmas at Weymouth Sea Life Park, is now in his early 20s.

But, whereas three younger chicks born in the Park’s resident colony are now comfortably making their fully independent way, Bonsai sticks like glue to his mum and dad, Maple and Rowan.
Animal care head Fiona Smith said: “He’s an unusual penguin because they generally leave home at five months.
“We’ve even spruced up two empty nest boxes in the hope that that would entice him to get a place of his own, but he’s just not interested.”
She added that the blame lay fairly and squarely with his mum and dad.
Fiona said: “Like many mums she’s proved reluctant to loosen the apron strings and has carried on feeding Bonsai long past the point when he should have been fending for himself.”
Fending for himself, in this case, means taking food from his keepers instead of his parents.
Staff are now anxious that Bonsai finds his own feet before the winter when Maple and Rowan’s thoughts are likely to turn to producing more chicks.

PICTURE: Maple and Rowan still refuse to let their not so little Bonsai (right) take off into independence

WEYMOUTH: Bonsai has his roots planted firmly at home

WEYMOUTH: Bonsai has his roots planted firmly at home

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