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Penguin is scared of water

A penguin has become a star attraction at a Staffordshire zoo due to his fear of water. Kentucky stands forlornly on a rock while the zoo’s 23 other penguins swim in their pool, reports The Sun.

His keepers say he does not have enough feathers to protect him from the icy water.

Handler Adam Stevenson said: “He was born a bit of a runt, so he’s had moulting problems most of his life. He’s lost a lot more feathers than some of his friends. It’s too cold for him in the water, so he spends all his time on the rocks walking around. The visitors find it quite funny when he’s the only one sat there. He has become quite famous because it’s unusual for penguins not to like water.”

Staff at Blackbrook Zoological Park, in Leek, have to force 11-year-old Kentucky into the pool twice a day to keep his feathers clean.

Visitor Stacey Commons said: “He’s really cute but I felt quite sorry for him - it’s like watching a monkey who’s scared of climbing up trees.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .