UPI – A British zoo has discovered that one of its king penguins, believed to be female, is actually male, leaving the facility with just one female king penguin.
Birdland Park and Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, conducted DNA testing on a feather from the 10-year-old penguin, previously named Maggie, after observing it attempting to court a male penguin named Frank.
The penguin, originally bred in Odense, Denmark, and brought to the park in 2016, has now been renamed Magnus following the revelation.
The zoo said 30-year-old Bill, who received her name after initially being mistaken for a male due to her size, is now the only female penguin in the breeding colony.
“Discovering that Magnus is actually a male and his gender differs from what we initially believed presents another unique hurdle in our efforts to establish a successful breeding programme here in the United Kingdom,” head keeper at Birdland Alistair Keen told the media.
“It’s fascinating, however, to have confirmed what we’ve long suspected, and we remain committed to supporting these incredible birds in every way possible.”
