Two penguins have been rescued after being stolen from a zoo and sold online

A pair of 15-year-old Humboldt penguins have been returned to South Lakes Safari Zoo

Andrew Parker

Published: 21:30, 18 Jan 2019
Updated: 3:11, 19 Jan 2019

A BIZARRE sting operation to rescue a pair of penguins was launched after they were stolen from a zoo and sold online.

The Humboldt penguins were bought “in good faith” by exotic animal breeder Reece Oliver after he spotted an internet ad.

The feathery pair were stolen from their home at a zoo in Cumbria and illegally sold onlineCredit: PA:Press Association

But they had been snatched from their enclosure at a zoo in November.

Reece, 27, only discovered they were stolen when he took them to a vet, who found they were microchipped.

He then called police, who contacted the seller to “set him up”.

Reece told the man he wanted his cash back so the seller travelled from his home in Preston to Reece’s farm in Strelley, Notts.

When he arrived, officers arrested him on suspicion of burglary and theft. The 23-year-old suspect has been freed on bail.

The 15-year-old penguins have been returned to South Lakes Safari Zoo, near Dalton-in-Furness, in Cumbria.

Reece had hoped to legally breed the penguins and sell the chicks to specialist collectors for £10,000 each.

A pal said last night: “Reece is really into exotic animals and has a puma and some monkeys on his farm.

“His intention was to breed the penguins as the chicks are very valuable.

“He bought them in all good faith from a guy on the internet at a cost of several thousand pounds and had the vet out last week to have them checked over.

“When he found out they had been stolen he was stunned and furious.

“The guy must have been an idiot — why the hell would you try to sell stolen penguins? He was basically caught red-handed.

“Reece is the innocent party in the whole thing. At the end of the day he saved the penguins.”

A spokesman for Notts Police said: “After putting our beak in and making enquiries we recovered the birds safe and well and returned them to the zoo.”

South Lakes Safari Zoo did not return calls for a comment yesterday.