World's 'oldest' Humboldt penguin marks birthday

Spneb celebrated her 37th birthday at Paradise Park in Cornwall

A Humboldt penguin believed to be the oldest of its species in the world has celebrated its 37th birthday in Cornwall.

Paradise Park in Hayle said Spneb marked the occasion on Wednesday with a birthday cake made of ice featuring her favourite fish - sprats - topped with a fluffy toy penguin made by one of her keepers.

Spneb was born in 1988 at Birdworld in Surrey and arrived at Paradise Park shortly afterwards.

Humboldt penguins normally have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years in the wild and Spneb's keepers say records kept by zoos around the world suggest she is the oldest of her type across the globe.

Becky Waite, one of Spneb's keepers, said the penguin was doing "amazingly well" for its age.

"We have a colony of 24 Humboldt's penguins including two chicks, and although she's an elderly penguin, she continues to have a good appetite," Ms Waite added.

"She likes to keep an eye on all the youngsters while looking out of her box and her favourite companion is one of the older males