Cornwall believed to be home to three of UK's oldest penguins
Residents at Paradise Park in Hayle, Mildred, Gladys and Spneb, will all be 33 by June!
It is thought that three of the UK's oldest penguins are right here in Cornwall.
Mildred, Gladys and Spneb are residents at Paradise Park in Hayle.
In the wild, Humboldt's Penguins like these usually only live to around 15-years-old.
However, Mildred and Spneb are now 33-years-old and Gladys will celebrate her 33rd birthday in June!
Scroll down to read more about the super-cute birds and watch them splashing around in their pool!
Meet Mildred:
Mildred (affectionately call Millie by the staff) was the first one to reach the ripe old age of 33 on 1st April.
She was a favourite with the visitors as she used to take part at the 'Penguin Photocall' but Paradise Park had to retire her from the photocalls when her eyesight started to let her down.
She developed cataracts in both eyes back in 2014 and now has very little sight, but she finds her way around the pool just fine. Although the staff do hand feed her the majority of the time.
She is still laying eggs but not had any chicks for a few years now.
Meet Spneb:
Spneb's name (a fun one to try and pronounce!) is a fusion of the two types of medication she was on during some intense treatment back in 2007 when she developed a fungal disease called Aspergillosis.
It took 4 months to treat, but apart from some minor scaring to her lungs she recovered very well. She reached 33 on the 16th April.
She loves to have a fuss from the Keepers.
Meet Gladys:
Turning 33 in June this year, some visitors comment on the penguin with a long beak, and this is Gladys.
A few of the penguins get an occasional beak trim to keep it neat, symmetrical and functional, but hers needs more attention than any other penguin.
She has another quirk - back in 2010 an air sac on her neck became enlarged and now her head can tilt to one side a little but she copes with this very well.
"In the wild they are known to live to between 15 to 20 years of age, but in captivity it can be much longer.
"We do believe Mildred, Gladys and Spneb are three of the oldest on record and all turn 33 years old this year.
"Caring for elderly birds and animals is all part of a Keepers job. Many of the of issues that can crop up in old age are very similar to humans, like cataracts and joint pain, all of which receive treatments and medications plus a lot of TLC".
Keeper Kirsty Snoxall
You can watch Mildred, Gladys and Spneb splashing about in their pool below...