NEW ZEALAND – Little penguin Timmy has out-flippered Mo to become the National Aquarium of New Zealand’s first ever Penguin of the Year.
The finalists are both “bad boys” who regularly feature in the Naughty and Good Penguin of the Month competition, which the keepers started just over a year ago.
Members of the public were asked to vote for their favourites through social media and the National Aquarium website in the first two weeks of October, after which they were asked to choose their favourite between Timmy and Mo.
Corban Bell, seven, and his family found Timmy washed up on a Napier beach three years ago. They knew something was wrong so they popped him in a lunchbox and brought him to the National Aquarium which has become his permanent home. It is believed his spinal injury was from a possible boat strike. With physio he can now walk a little, but he has been unable to return to the wild.
Corban and his father, Ian, were at the National Aquarium this morning for the announcement, where he got to feed Timmy.
 |
| Penguin of the Year 2018 winner Timmy Photo credit: National Aquarium of New Zealand |
Members of the public were asked to vote for their favourites through social media and the National Aquarium website in the first two weeks of October, after which they were asked to choose their favourite between Timmy and Mo.
Corban Bell, seven, and his family found Timmy washed up on a Napier beach three years ago. They knew something was wrong so they popped him in a lunchbox and brought him to the National Aquarium which has become his permanent home. It is believed his spinal injury was from a possible boat strike. With physio he can now walk a little, but he has been unable to return to the wild.
Corban and his father, Ian, were at the National Aquarium this morning for the announcement, where he got to feed Timmy.
