Two men charged over penguin theft at animal park

Two Welsh men have been charged in Australia with stealing a fairy penguin called Dirk. The pair, aged 20 and 21, allegedly entered Sea World on Queensland's Gold Coast and removed the flightless bird, which has reportedly never lived in the wild.

Along with a teenager, they were charged with trespass, stealing and keeping a protected animal.

The BBC quoted one of the Welsh men, Rhys Jones, as saying: "Still a bit fuzzy about the whole thing but on behalf of the three of us we are very sorry and it was just a prank which went way too far."

He added: "We are all three of us sorry to Sea World for the time lost in them searching for Dirk and we're glad he's all right."

Dirk, aged seven, was eventually found in water near the park, according to reports, and was reunited with his girlfriend Peaches, reported.

The trio will appear before Southport magistrates on May 2.

ORIGINAL SOURCE
Content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.