East Sussex zoo helps couple pop the question - with penguins
Drusillas Park arranged to have some feathered friends involved
An East Sussex zoo has helped to make a Kent couple's marriage proposal extra-special - by getting a group of penguins into share the moment.
Louise Middlewood used a trip to Drusillas Park near Alfriston to pop the question to her penguin-loving partner Naomi.
Drusillas is home to a colony of Humboldt penguins, and while penguins may not seem like the most romantic animal in the world, they are mostly known for having the same partner for all of their adult lives.
Drusillas’ team helped Louise concoct a secret plan to be carried out as part of a penguin feeding encounter, with additional staff on hand to help execute the plan and capture the moment on camera.
The day also fell on Naomi’s 30th birthday, so the special fuss and attention the Zoo team were putting in didn’t raise any suspicions.
After taking part in the Zoo’s feed the penguins experience, the couple were asked to hunt for a small toy egg that had been hidden on the penguin beach, which contained a note inside asking Naomi to turn around – where Louise was waiting on one knee with penguins behind her and a gorgeous engagement ring in hand – and Naomi of course said yes.
Louise commented:
“Penguins were the obvious choice for my proposal, as Naomi just loves them and it has always been on her bucket list to be up close and personal with them - so it just felt right. On the day the penguins were on their best behaviour and helped to pull off a very special moment indeed!”
Marketing Manager, Tamara Nasser, who helped arrange the couple’s day said:
“It is always an honour to be asked to help with such a special occasion, and this was particularly fun as we had to keep lots of little secrets between us and Louise on the day, I even had to ‘steal’ her car keys to get everything set up before Naomi noticed!
"We wish them huge congratulations and a lifetime of happy memories.”
Meanwhile, keepers at Drusillas are hoping some of their creatures will also get into the spirit of Valentine's Day.
Last year the zoo was successfully able to set up two capybaras, resulting in their first baby there in more than a decade.
This time around, they're hopeful that giant anteaters Raya and Pablo will be ready for romance - using a giant piñata filled with grubs and bugs in a bid to get the pair together.
A Drusillas spokesperson said:
"We've got all our fingers, toes, and paws crossed that the 'flirting' we saw them doing after their date will bring the patter of tiny (and powerful) claws!"