Penguin chicks named after Only Fools and Horses characters
The attraction blends humour and conservation through its named penguins
Last updated 26th Jan 2026
Three Humboldt penguin chicks at Birdland, in the Cotswolds, have been named after beloved characters from comedy Only Fools and Horses as part of the attraction’s Penguin Awareness Day activities this month.
Birdland’s new arrivals, Del Boy, Rodney and Raquel, were hatched in 2025 and received their names following a public vote. The approach continues Birdland’s tradition of using light-hearted names to engage visitors while promoting conservation.
Last year, Birdland named two king penguins French and Saunders in homage to the iconic comedy duo while marking Comic Relief’s 40th anniversary. Birdland has long supported Comic Relief’s initiatives.
Birdland's global conservation efforts
Earlier this year, Head Keeper Alistair Keen returned from a conservation mission in southern Peru, assisting one of South America’s most important seabird breeding sites at Punta San Juan.
Al volunteered alongside Peruvian scientists and researchers to monitor penguin populations and seabirds, survey sea lions, and build over 100 artificial nesting boxes. These nesting boxes are designed to protect eggs and chicks from predators and rising temperatures exacerbated by climate change.
“It was an incredible experience,” Al said. “We were collecting vital data and building nests that will give Humboldt penguins a real chance. Seeing that work on the ground was genuinely moving.”
Humboldt penguins face numerous threats including climate change, El Niño events, overfishing, and avian influenza, with numbers at Punta San Juan decreasing significantly in recent years.
Birdland’s activities in Peru follow its partnership with Penguins International, which began after the park’s king penguin Spike won their global March of the Penguins Madness competition in 2023.
Since then, Birdland has funded population surveys and raised awareness about penguins and conservation challenges.
H2 Promoting awareness through penguin names
“Giving penguins names helps people connect with them,” Al said. “But it also opens the door to much bigger conversations. Every penguin matters, whether it’s here in the Cotswolds or on the wild coast of Peru.”
Birdland plans to continue supporting the Punta San Juan Programme through awareness campaigns, fundraising, and planned field collaborations.