Three adorable penguin chicks have swapped Peckham for the Cotswolds after being named Del Boy, Rodney and Raquel following a public vote.
The trio, born in 2025 at Birdland Park & Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, were named after the beloved Only Fools and Horses characters — and their names are already winning hearts.
A Fun Way to Raise Awareness
Birdland officially revealed the names on Penguin Awareness Day, 20 January, hoping the playful theme would help draw attention to the serious threats facing Humboldt penguins in the wild.
The park is also home to other famously named penguins, including king penguins French and Saunders.
One of the Rarest Penguin Species
With fewer than 10,000 individuals left worldwide, Humboldt penguins are among the rarest of the 17 penguin species.
In the wild, they face growing dangers, including:
- Climate change
- Overfishing
- El Niño weather events
- Avian influenza
These pressures are rapidly shrinking their natural populations along the coasts of Chile and Peru.
Conservation Work in Peru
Birdland’s head keeper, Alistair Keen, recently took part in a conservation mission to southern Peru, where he worked directly with wild Humboldt colonies.
At Punta San Juan, home to one of Peru’s largest Humboldt penguin populations, Keen helped build 100 artificial nesting boxes designed to protect eggs and chicks from predators and rising temperatures.
He also collected vital scientific data to support long-term conservation efforts.
“The work gives the species a real chance,” Keen said.
Life at Birdland
The Humboldt penguins at Birdland are captive-bred and fed a carefully managed diet of fresh whole sprats, vitamins, and salt.
While they live in a safe environment, their story helps visitors understand the struggles their wild counterparts face.
Every Penguin Matters
Back in the Cotswolds, Keen hopes the familiar names will help people connect emotionally with the birds.
“It opens the door to much bigger conversations,” he said.
“Every penguin matters — whether it’s here in the Cotswolds or on the wild coast of Peru.”
Supporting Penguin Conservation Worldwide
Birdland has partnered with Penguins International since 2023, when its king penguin Spike was voted the world’s favourite penguin.
Since then, the park has supported:
- Population surveys
- Public education campaigns
- Conservation programmes in Peru
And it has pledged to continue funding efforts that protect penguins for generations to come.