Three men are being sought after a penguin was stolen from Dublin Zoo this morning. The bizarre theft happened at around 8.30am before the zoo opened to the public.

Three men climbed the perimeter fence and entered the penguin habitat, capturing a 10-year-old female named Kelli. They put her into a sack and left the zoo where they hailed a taxi passing through the Phoenix Park.

They told the driver they had a rabbit with them and he dropped them in Dublin's north inner city. The penguin was found on Rutland Street and was taken back to the zoo by gardaí from Store Street. Kelli was returned to the penguin habitat after a vet inspection found she had no injuries.

In a statement this afternoon, Dublin Zoo said it 'is naturally relieved that the animal is safe and unharmed'. However, they underlined their annoyance about the incident saying it 'is not frivolous and is certainly not something amusing'.

I think the penguin was just begging to be picked up....

Sorry.....

*slap*

Sorry folks, he'll behave better in future

I think they might be wrong about that last bit...

I work with penguins, one day a week.
As a Friend Of A Friend story, it usually goes like this -
"Someone I know, knew someone who's son/classmate/relative/special needs child took a penguin home in their school bag/drinks box/under their arm and it wasn't discovered until they were at home/on the bus"

Firstly, I don't know how many of you have tried holding onto an angry 5kg bird, but they don't like being moved. They're usually pretty damn noisy, smelly and mostly sharp animals. How you'd get one inside a bag unnoticed I have no idea.

This is [LIFTED]. It's never happened, but lots of people know the story.
And now this happens. Finally, it's true.
Poor bird. Hope it's ok. People handle them and it disturbs the oil on their feathers, meaning the next time it goes swimming there's no proofing and it could die of cold.
Not cool.

they are kept in as natural an environment as possible.

What concrete floors and being stared at by monkies all day?

What concrete floors and being stared at by monkies all day?

Not where I work.

No, it's nice to know they're not all concrete jungles. I'd rather them be in a nice field in the UK than on somebody's wall in the US. They frickin ship wild animals from Africa, drug them and let rich people shoot them. Even if you were pro big game hunting, shooting an animal that's been impaired is not hunting.

Yes but that is the limit of many americans hunting ability. It is a macho thing there to be able to hunt. If you can't hunt you are some elitist.