A bird park near Oxfordshire has said a fond farewell to one of its oldest residents, Lily the King Penguin, after she passed away last week.

Lily hatched in 1992 at Birdland Park and Gardens in the Cotswolds and became one of the best breeding king penguins there.

She continued to lay eggs until two years ago, when her health first began to deteriorate.

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Simon Cox, general manager of the Bourton-on-the-Water attraction, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Lily here at Birdland.

“She was one of Europe’s oldest female King Penguins.

“Over the past two years she began to slow down with a mild form of arthritis and had begun to form cataracts in both eyes.

"However she was always responsive to light and movement and was able to get around Penguin Shore and Pool with ease.

Oxford Mail:

Lily raised a total of eight chicks, including Frank, the father of Spike, who was recently voted the World’s Most Popular Penguin.

Mr Cox added: “We’d like to thank Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital for all their support with health checks and medication for Lily, and the keepers at Birdland for all their love and care.”

Birdland Park and Gardens is home to more than 500 birds, ranging from birds of prey to parrots.

It features a combination of woodland, riverside and gardens and is open for people to visit.