William and Kate adopt baby penguin, Acorn
Prince William and new wife Kate Middleton, who now goes by Catherine, have adopted an endangered baby penguin named Acorn.
The bird will continue to live at England's Chester Zoo, which had given Acorn to the newlyweds, known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridg, as a wedding gift. William married his bride in London on April 29 in a ceremony watched by millions of people around the world, including more than 22 million viewers in the United States.
"It's a real honour to be able to boast Prince William and Kate as penguin adopters," a zoo spokersperson said in a statement posted online. "And hopefully the happy couple will come and see little Acorn playing in his pool very soon."
The zoo houses 50 Humbolt penguins, an endangered South American species. Acorn is one of 10 babies who were born in late April and was the first among his siblings to hatch. The names of the chicks are based on a British tree theme. The last penguin to hatch was dubbed Oak.
Fans of the zoo had voted on which animal the royal couple should sponsor and a penguin won with more than 20 percent of the votes.
"Rothschild giraffes and African painted dogs were a distant second and third, with other notable suggestions including royal starlings Billy and Nate, a grey crowned crane and a black rhinoceros," the spokesperson said.
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