A penguin has become a 'guide-bird' for a companion suffering cataracts - escorting her to food and round their enclosure.<br />The helpful animal - called Penguin - has bonded with 'Squid' the three-year-old with eye problems.<br />Penguin is now inseparable from Squid who has poor vision because of cataracts - a debilitating condition that clouds the lens of the eye.<br />The hand-reared African Penguins 'amazed' the keepers at Birdworld in Surrey with their remarkable relationship.<br />Squid is often disoriented during busy feeding times and relies on Penguin's "unwavering calmness".<br />Penguin has become Squid's beacon - guiding her around the enclosure and acting as her 'eyes'.<br />Spokesperson Polly Branham said: “The intuitive behaviour observed between Penguin and Squid has revealed a remarkable level of empathy and understanding, showcasing the profound connections that can form within the animal kingdom.”<br /><br />Penguin's journey began during the pandemic facing an unknown illness that required hands-on care.<br />The team say it was this challenging start which made him exceptionally timid - so he had to heavily dependent on his keepers.<br />As he grew stronger, Penguin eventually integrated with the colony at the park.<br />When Squid was hatched, she displayed the typical lively and vocal traits of a penguin chick, despite developing cataracts at just six weeks old - a unique occurrence within her otherwise healthy family.<br /><br />Polly said: “In the penguin community, where social bonds and mutual tolerance are crucial, Squid's being partially sighted posed a manageable challenge, as long as she could engage in natural behaviours."<br />Having been nurtured within the colony, Squid honed her skills alongside her peers.<br />As she ventured from the nest, Penguin, too, was embracing his newfound strength on the beach park, learning the essence of being a penguin.<br />Polly explained: "A lot of Squid's success is based on confidence.<br />"She used to be quite anxious about approaching the fish bucket at feeding time because the excitement of the other penguins created a more unpredictable environment, and she would shy away from this for fear of getting caught in the crossfire of beaks.<br />"That is how Penguin has been such an enormous help to her.<br />"His stability was something she could rely on, the base from which she has steadily expanded her world."<br />Their simultaneous journeys of discovery led to a remarkable relationship, with Squid's boldness perfectly complemented by Penguin's patience, making them an inseparable and inspiring duo.<br />Senior Penguin Keeper, Natalie Marshall added: “We didn’t expect Penguin and Squid to form such a close bond, and it's evident that Penguin's resilience significantly influenced Squid's self-assurance."
