A concerned animal lover alerted zookeepers to an injured rockhopper penguin she spotted on their webcam – only to be told it was just a rock.
The world-famous Edinburgh Zoo has more than 100 gentoos, kings and rockhoppers in its enclosures – all of which can be viewed on a live streaming webcam.
Jazzmine Thomas, 25, decided to watch the webcam on Monday when she couldn’t sleep – but was left stunned when she saw all but one of the penguins waddling around.
She quickly took a screenshot of what she thought was a stricken penguin and alerted zoo bosses on Twitter.
@EdinburghZoo is this penguin okay? He hasn't moved 🥺🤞 pic.twitter.com/eZ1eiZaNC8
— Jazz (@Jazzmellodi) February 15, 2021
But teaching assistant Jazzmine couldn’t believe it when the zoo got back to her to say it was in fact just a rock.
Jazzmine, from Horsham, West Sussex, said she has since received lots of messages about the hilarious mistake.
She said: “I couldn’t sleep and I had seen on TikTok people talking about watching the webcam so I thought I would give it a go.
“I was watching the penguins wake up and they were all waddling around except this one which was just lying down, so I stated getting worried.
“I though the fastest way to contact the zoo would be to tweet them.
“I think I was just really tired, and the way the light was hitting the rock it looked like a penguin’s belly.”
Worried Jazzmine asked the zoo on Twitter: “Is this penguin okay? He hasn’t moved.”
But Edinburgh Zoo quickly got back to Jazz to tell her it was in fact just a rock.
They said: “Hi Jazz, we do have rockhoppers but that’s just a rock…”
Embarrassed Jazzmine said” “When the zoo responded I just felt so stupid, but I did think it was really funny.
Don’t be fooled by the rocks that we’ve got. pic.twitter.com/tLDiGUNIfJ
— Edinburgh Zoo (@EdinburghZoo) February 15, 2021
“I have had loads of messages from people saying it’s hilarious, so I am glad it cheered everyone up, especially just now.”
Jazzmine said she is glad people have seen the funny side of the tweet and hopes it helps bring attention to the zoo’s webcam.
She added: “It’s the first time I have ever watcher the webcam, but I did check it again last night and think they might have moved the rock.
“At least it might bring some attention to the zoo which is good because I am an animal lover.”
A J-Lo fan running the Edinburgh Zoo Twitter account quipped: “Don’t be fooled by the rocks that we’ve got.”
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