A THREE-month-old penguin had to be given swimming lessons by zoo staff - because he had never been in water before.

Jack the Humboldt penguin was born weighing a tiny 70g and measuring just over 2in. He has now grown to more than 1ft in height and has moved from a daily diet of liquidised fish to a staggering 85 sprats.

The hand-reared chick had never been exposed to water because staff at Paultons Park, at Ower near Romsey, were worried his feathers would not be waterproof.

Now after splashing around and proving to staff that he can swim, Jack will be allowed to join the park's other 16 Humboldts.

Livestock manager Geoff Masson said: "Jack's feathers still need to be a little more waterproof. But now we are happy he knows what to do he will soon be put in to join the other birds in the large penguin pool."

Jack's parents, Lunch and Markie, originally laid two eggs but zoo staff removed one because they thought it would give them a better chance of keeping at least one chick alive.

Luckily, when the remaining egg hatched, the adult birds were able to successfully raise Jack's brother, Shuffles.

Assistant livestock manager Jamie Summers said: "If our young birds have more than one egg we often take one away.

"Fortunately, in this case we've done our job with Jack, and mum and dad have done their job with Jack's brother in the nest.

"Now we have two healthy baby birds.

"He's a real favourite at the zoo - and not just with the penguin keepers. Everyone loves him.

"People always ask what time we are feeding him so they can pop in and watch.

"We have to turn people away because it can get a bit scary for the little guy."

Humboldt penguins, also known as Peruvian penguins, come from the coastal regions of Chile and Peru.

Jamie says that because of the changing climate and the increase in agriculture in their natural habitat, the current population is estimated at less than 15,000.

Jamie added: "Humboldt penguins are very rare and endangered - there are only between 9,000 and 15,000 left in the wild. This makes it crucial that our breeding programmes are successful