Care home residents get to p-p-pick up penguins

Residents at a care home had the "exciting" opportunity to p-p-pick up two penguins.

Pringle and Widget, who live at Heythrop Zoological Gardens in Oxfordshire, visited the residents at The Ark in Basford, Nottingham.

More than 30 people with learning disabilities and complex care needs came from across Nottinghamshire to see the pair on Tuesday.

Residents enjoyed the company of the "very inquisitive" flightless birds, staff at the care home said.

Service manager at The Ark Grace Radford said: "I think everybody's been very happy, I think a lot of people will probably need to have ten minutes to have a calm down after today.

"It's an exciting opportunity and there will be talk of penguins for many weeks to come."

Stuart Taylor, who is a senior support worker at the care home, added: "It has been pretty cool, we had a pony here a few weeks ago but penguins have pushed it out there a bit further.

"The penguins are so calming, it's made us chill and relax, it's just a great thing."

Barbara Howes, the zookeeper who looks after the birds, said people have a "very special feeling for penguins".

"They have such big characters and personalities, they are very inquisitive and enjoy going to different places," she said.

Vicky Daniels, the support worker who organised the visit, said the penguins were met with "smiles, giggles and laughter".

"Animal therapy is incredibly powerful, the animals that come and visit have such calming effect because of the stroking and being able to hold them," she added.

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