P-p-p-pick up a penguin on Myspace.com…

With little success so far London Zoo keepers are appealing for any other progressive penguins to get online.

Roxy the rockhopper is the first zoo animal to set up a profile on social networking page Myspace.com to search for the perfect partner. As one of very few penguins using Myspace.com she knows there might be a bit of a wait until other feathered friends get on board, but she has the advantage of being a p-p-p-patient penguin!

Roxy arrived at London Zoo a year ago after being transferred from Whipsnade Zoo where she had been causing a bit of mischief. She settled in brilliantly at London with our 31 South African black footed penguins, and two baby rockhoppers who recently joined the pool too.

Before Roxy commits to either of them she decided to cast her net over the World Wide Web in case there are any other romantic rockhoppers out there looking for love. Although she discovered a surprising number of animated and toy penguins using the internet, she’s had no luck finding anyone that’s part of the European breeding programme.

Roxy’s Myspace page can be reached at: www.myspace.com/roxyrockhopper

She has already attracted a small legion of friends including her first aptly named friend, rock band The Venus Guns, who offered to help shoot some love in her direction. She’s still waiting for that special someone from the flightless bird world though.

Notes to editors

Of course, while London Zoo encourages Roxy to become conversant with technology, we will be consulting with the breeding programme co-ordinator to ensure a suitable pairing for her through the more traditional channels (but don’t tell her!)

Roxy

Roxy is a rockhopper penguin. These penguins are found on sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding areas. Their name comes from their distinctive hop using both feet to move between rocks.

Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) are classed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species. This is mainly due to habitat loss and degradation due to pollution.

ZSL

Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide.

Press Contact

Emma Kenly
Press Officer
Zoological Society of London
London Zoo
Regent's Park
London NW1 4RY
T: 020 7449 6280 F: 020 7449 5743
emma.kenly@zsl.org