Residents, families and colleagues at The Lakes Care Centre were treated to a truly unforgettable experience on 11 March when two very special visitors arrived - Pringle and Widget, a pair of charismatic Humboldt Penguins.

The delightful duo waddled through communal areas and explored the home’s gardens, offering residents a rare opportunity to see the remarkable birds up close. Many residents had the chance to help feed the penguins, ask questions to their experienced handler, and learn more about their natural habitat and fascinating behaviours.

Adding to the excitement of the day, BBC Gloucestershire visited the home to film the occasion. The footage is expected to be featured on local BBC news over the coming days, helping share the joyful moment with the wider community.

The visit created smiles, laughter and plenty of treasured photo opportunities, with families and members of the local community joining in the excitement. Events like this highlight the home’s role as a welcoming and vibrant part of the Cirencester community.

Animal visits are well known to spark conversation, stimulate memories and promote wellbeing, particularly for older people and those living with dementia. The penguins’ visit supported the home’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality residential and specialist dementia care, as well as day care and respite services that provide social enrichment for residents and valuable support for their loved ones.

Pringle and Widget are multi-generation captive-bred Humboldt Penguins accustomed to human interaction through many years working within the film and entertainment industry under expert guidance. Comfortable around people and busy environments, they have experience appearing at events and educational visits.

At their home, the penguins live in a specially constructed enclosure designed to reflect their natural habitat, complete with a swimming pool, pebbled beach and nesting houses. They live in a social breeding group and enjoy an active lifestyle.

Nikkie Millar, Home Manager at The Lakes Care Centre, said:

“We are so grateful to have been able to offer our residents such a wonderful and unusual experience. Seeing their faces light up as Pringle and Widget waddled through the home was truly heartwarming. Experiences like this make such a difference to wellbeing. They spark conversation, bring back happy memories, and create new ones too. We are always looking for meaningful ways to enrich the lives of our residents, and this was certainly a day filled with joy.”

Hannah from Amazing Animals added:

“Our Humboldt Penguins are used to regular human contact and are very comfortable in care home environments. We believe that bringing these incredible birds to residents in care homes, hospices and hospitals creates special moments of joy, reminiscence and connection. Pringle and Widget are always at the front of the queue to visit — they’re wonderful ambassadors and are well known across the care home sector.”