For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Norwegian police conducted a search after three-week-old baby Humbolt penguins and an egg disappeared from Norway’s Aalesund Aquarium last week.
Police suspect students were behind the theft, after they charged five or six youths for breaking into the aquarium on Friday, according to Police Investigator Rita Thoresen.
"None of them admits taking the penguins," she said.
Humbolt penguins at London Zoo
(Getty)
Erik Standal, Head of the Aalesund Aquarium on Norway's west coast, described the bird’s disappearance as a "tragedy".
"They will not be able to survive for much longer," he said.
"They should have been in their nest for maybe 2-3 more weeks before they go outside."
The chicks are only three weeks old and weigh around 300 grams each.
More than 100 volunteers turned out to help the police search for the flightless birds in the countryside around the aquarium.
10 best zoos in the UKShow all 10 1 /1010 best zoos in the UK 10 best zoos in the UK Marwell Zoo This 140-acre park near Winchester is home to hundreds of exotic and endangered species, ranging from ring-tailed coatis to majestic giraffes, endangered tigers to frilled lizards, curious meerkats to pygmy hippos all set in beautiful, landscaped surroundings. This summer the zoo is opening Wild Explorers, their biggest exhibit to date, hosting some of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife. Online adults £17.26; child £13.62. Under 3s go free. www.marwell.org.uk
10 best zoos in the UK Paignton Zoo This leafy, shady gem of a zoo was one of the first places in the UK to combine zoological and botanical gardens. It now boasts around 2,000 animals and 1,600 plant species, making for a wonderful place to explore, plus it's been leading the zoo world in ethical trading for years. Watch out for the new male lion Lucifer. Online adults £16.50; child £12. Under 3s go free. www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
10 best zoos in the UK Bristol Zoo Though this zoo may be a modest 12 acres, it is home to over 450 species. What’s more, being one of the smaller zoos of the world, they’ve been forced to use their space cleverly and efficiently. The new gorilla house, for instance, is an award-winning enclosure, with a glass-roofed viewing area that you can walk over – a world first. New for 2015 are 13 huge and incredibly life-like animatronic Big Bugs, that will make the zoo their home for six months this summer. Online adult £14.53; child £9.09. Under 2s go free. www.bristolzoo.org.uk
10 best zoos in the UK Chester Zoo This is the most visited zoo in the UK and rated among the top 15 zoos in the world. There’s an impressive 12,0000 animals from over 400 species, as well as a particularly exciting £30m project underway that will take visitors on a personal conservation expedition through the Philippines, Bali, Sulawesi, Sumb and Sumatra, just like the great explorers. Online child £14.72; child £11.86. Under 3s go free. www.chesterzoo.org
10 best zoos in the UK Howlett’s Wild Animal Park Howlett’s, which was initially set up as a private zoo and is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, made news for unfortunate reasons back in the 90s – the keeper was eaten by a tiger. Even though you can still have close encounters with the big cats, they’re thankfully not that close, and there are lots of other amazing animals in this fabulous, natural-looking 90-acre park too. Online adult £19.95; child £15.95. Under 3s go free. www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts
10 best zoos in the UK ZSL London Zoo This is the world’s oldest scientific zoo and currently home to more than 750 different species. Having opened the world’s first aquarium, reptile house and insect house, innovation is still high on its agenda and whilst last year witnessed a brand new Pygmy hippo exhibit, this year’s exciting news is the new ‘In with the Lemurs’ exhibit, which opens on Saturday 28 March. Online adult £21.81; child £15.91. Under 3s go free. www.zsl.org
10 best zoos in the UK Whipsnade Zoo The UK’s largest zoo is set in a beautiful 600 acres, featuring over 2,500 animals, many of which are jumbo size, such as the elephants, rhinos, tigers, African lions, brown bears, zebras, moose and hippos. It’s also got the UK’s largest herd of Asian elephants, which you can watch getting taken for a stroll around the zoo most afternoons. Don’t miss out on the steam railway, which offers great views of many of the animals. Online adult £25; child £18. Under 3s go free. www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo
10 best zoos in the UK Edinburgh Zoo This 82 acre zoo is the only zoo in the UK to care for giant pandas and koalas. Other animal highlights include a young baby chimp in their award winning Budongo Trail enclosure, a baby tapir, Indian rhinos, sun bears and a famous daily penguin parade. From April 3 to November 1 the zoo has the added bonus of a life-size animatronic exhibition of dinosaurs – Dinosaurs Return! Online adult £17.00; child £12.50 Under 3s go free www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
10 best zoos in the UK Welsh Mountain Zoo Some TripAdvisor reviewers complain about the hills. But the zoo’s name should be a bit of a giveaway that it’s not flat. Yes, you’ll be tired, but there’s so much that make it worth it, including an amazing sea lion show, the macaws flying around you, and animals including snow leopards, tigers, otters, lemurs and bears. The keepers are keen to answer questions. Online adult £10.95; child £8.25. Under 3s go free. www.welshmountainzoo.org
10 best zoos in the UK Colchester Zoo This delightful zoo with over 270 species in 60 acres is particularly child-friendly, with lots of hands on experiences and over 50 daily displays, as well as four adventure play areas and an undercover soft play area. It stays fresh by continually expanding and kids will love the Madagascar Express road train. Online adult £21.99; child £14.99. Under 3s go free www.colchesterzoo.org
May is a time of celebration for high school graduates in Norway, often including drunkenness and pranks or dares including, kissing a policeman or even, on one occasion, hugging the central bank governor.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies