Baby penguin taken away to gain weight to be reunited with parents via special pen

A baby Humboldt penguin who was born weighing less than 100 grams is about to be reunited with its parents after it was taken away to gain weight.

The 8-week-old penguin stopped growing two weeks after being born so staff at the Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park intervened to begin tube-feeding the baby.

Within the next week, the new addition will be introduced to the colony of 14 Humboldt Penguins, including its parents, through a special pen for protection and reintroduction.

The little penguin was welcomed on March 23 to first-time parents Laurel and Cedar.

Although they were doing a good job of sustaining it, the baby penguin stopped gaining weight and then developed a wheeze meaning it needed medication and regular supervision.

Fiona Smith, Displays Curator at the Park said:

Before then, the team’s aims are to make sure it's strong enough and feeding well.

The team at Weymouth are currently waiting on the hatching of 5 eggs to several pairs.