Latest news with #Wotsit
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Gay penguin couple hatch and raise chick
A same-sex penguin couple has hatched and raised a baby chick which was rejected by its parents. Scampi and Flounder, two males, took on the parenting responsibility as 10 rare Humboldt penguin chicks were born at Chester Zoo, Cheshire, in April. The couple stepped in to help incubate and hatch one of two eggs laid by another penguin pair called Wotsit and Peach. Same-sex penguin relationships are not unheard of: a gay pair called Sphen and Magic rose to fame after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Both mother and father penguins usually take solo shifts feeding and caring for the chick, but Scampi and Flounder have taken on the role together in what the zoo described as a 'heart-warming development'. Photos show the chicks undergoing regular weigh-ins, and are said to be just 'days away' from their first swimming lessons. Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged. 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone – their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.' The highly-threatened Humboldt species is one of the most at risk of extinction out of the world's 17 species of penguin. Bird experts shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and help improve the chances of successful fledging. The chicks began hatching from their eggs between April 16 and 28 and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. Keepers have now named eight of the penguins after constellations and celestial wonders: Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. Ms Sweetman added: 'In what has been one of our long-standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks, and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders. 'But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gay penguin couple Scampi and Flounder are stepping up to raise chick at UK zoo
A same-sex penguin couple have become parents for the first time to a baby chick at Chester Zoo. Male penguins Scampi and Flounder have shared a close bond for a few years and have now stepped up to raise a chick. The pair took on the parenting responsibility after ten Humboldt penguin chicks arrived at the attraction in April. Another penguin couple, Wotsit and Peach, laid two eggs and zookeepers decided to allow the males to raise one of the chicks themselves. The Chester Zoo team said this was to allow each pair to focus solely on one chick and increase the chance of both fledgling. Same-sex relationships are not unheard of in the penguin world and a gay pair called Sphen and Magic became world-famous after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Both male and female penguin parents usually share feeding duties but in an a 'heartwarming development' Scampi and Flounder have taken on the role together. Adorable photos show the youngsters undergoing regular weigh-ins and are said to be just 'days away' from their first swimming lessons. A Chester Zoo spokesperson said: 'Penguin couple Wotsit (male) and Peach (female) are first time parents. 'They laid two eggs and the keeper team decided to give one of their eggs to couple Scampi and Flounder to raise. 'This is just to help give each chick the very best chance of fledging the nest and so the new parents have one chick to focus on. 'Our keepers refer to Scampi and Flounder as a gay couple as they share a really close bond and have been together for a few years - which is why they were trusted to raise and care for one of the eggs and raise a chick.' Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged. 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone - their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.' Humboldt Penguins Scientific name: Spheniscus humboldti This South American penguin is named after the chilly Humboldt current, along which the penguins commonly swim. In the wild, Humboldt penguins are vulnerable to disturbances in their food chain caused by strong El Nino currents. Humboldt penguins are social animals, living in relatively large colonies of closely spaced burrows. Humboldt penguins 'fly' through the water at speeds of up to 25mph. They enjoy a diet of small fish (anchovies, herring, smelt) and crustaceans. The highly-threatened Humboldt species is one of the most at risk of extinction out of the world's 17 species of penguin. Bird experts shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and help improve chances of successful fledging. The chicks began hatching from their eggs between April 16-28 and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. Keepers have now named eight of the penguins after constellations and celestial wonders - Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. Zoe added: 'In what has been one of our long standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders. 'But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.
The Independent
03-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
16 best gradual tans for a healthy golden glow
Whether you like to fake a year-round tan, apply a layer before heading on holiday or are just a summertime addict, gradual tan deserves a place in every fake tanner's arsenal. While mousses and mitts have always hogged the limelight, building your base with a gradual formula is – in this long-serving fake tanner's opinion – the best way to achieve a subtle and natural-looking wash of bronze. From fast-drying lotions and creams to butters and serums, these products give you a natural-looking glow and are also far less drying than other methods (goodbye, tiger bread skin). Thanks to the hybrid moisturising formula, stubborn dry areas, such as elbows, ankles and knees, are much easier to tackle. Better still, you're left feeling supple for days after a tanning session, thanks to skin-loving ingredients. Designed to be applied just as you would a normal body lotion, it's much easier to execute a streak-free tan with your bare hands – just remember to wash them after, to avoid the tell-all Wotsit fingers. Plus, you can customise your glow by reapplying as many times as you'd like. How we tested Our criteria for the best gradual tanners spanned ease of application, long-lasting results, evenness, value for money and skin benefits. Some of these products we've loved and used religiously for years, while others are newer launches that have risen to cult status in our bathroom cabinet. We tested the formulas after exfoliating and reapplied each product to see how well it built a realistic glow. Here are the gradual face and body tanners to stock up on in time for summer. Why trust our coverage Daisy has been covering beauty here at The Independent for the past five years and, in addition to garnering a breadth of knowledge on all things skincare and bodycare, she's become somewhat of an expert on fake tans, from graduals to mousses. Besides using fake tan herself weekly, Daisy is guardian of IndyBest's guide to applying fake ta n and has written several individual reviews for tanners, including St Tropez and Bare by Vogue. Now, after copious testing, she's pulled together a definitive guide to the best gradual formulas. Scroll on for her verdict. The best gradual tans for 2025 are:
