STAFF at Flamingo Land are having to p..p..pick up a penguin after several baby chicks arrived at the theme park zoo near Pickering.

Zoo manager Ross Snipp said zoo keepers were keeping a close eye on them to check they are gaining weight and growing as expected.

“Each day the chicks are weighed and their growth and vital statistics plotted to ensure they flourish," he said.

The Humboldt penguins are found in the southern hemisphere, generally off the coasts of Peru and Chile, and are named after the ‘Humboldt Current.'

A spokeswoman said a fantastic ‘penguin experience’ could be enjoyed at Flamingo Land which allowed children over the age of 8, with under 12s accompanied by an adult, to feed the penguins.