Students steal endangered penguin that ‘can’t survive in the wild’ from marine park

An African penguin’s life is at risk after well-meaning students freed it from captivity and released it into the wild.

The endangered animal - known as Buddy - was taken from a South African marine park a week ago and has not been seen since.

The students broke into Bayworld in Port Elizabeth, keen to protest animals being kept in captivity.

CCTV footage caught them taking Buddy from his enclosure and putting him in their car, before driving him to nearby Pollock Beach where they released him into the ocean.

As Buddy had never been in the sea before, his life is now at risk. Bayworld staff are hoping that he will come ashore before his reserves of fat run out - which is expected to happen within two weeks.

The poor penguin was born in captivity and doesn’t know how to look after himself in the wild, according to officials.

The penguin was born in captivity and will not be able to survive in the wild (Getty)

Dylan Bailey, the manager of Bayworld, told the BBC that Buddy is “completely ill-equipped to survive in the wild. He will have no idea where he is.”

Buddy was part of a breeding pair, and shared care of two chicks with his mate, Frances. Since Buddy was taken, one of the chicks has sadly died.

Both in their early twenties, the students - who had no intention of harming Buddy - have came forward after realising the severity of their actions.

With less than 20,000 breeding pairs in existence, African penguins are on the critically endangered list.

The Bayworld team have been scouring the coastline in search of Buddy, and are remaining hopeful that he will be found.

Mr Bailey said: “We are optimistic. We have hope he will come ashore before he becomes too weak.”

Image: REX