Little blue penguins arrive at Darling Downs Zoo as part of breeding program

After years of careful planning these cute penguins are making themselves home at a Queensland zoo.

The first of many more little blue penguins have arrived at the Darling Downs Zoo after years of planning.

This week four little Blue Penguins travelled from Coffs Harbour. Darling Downs Zoo owner Stephanie Robinson said after years of planning to get them up north, it had finally happened.

“They’re controlled by a breeding program to try and preserve the species,” she said.

“So the breeding program controls who mates with who, from the genetics point of view to try and keep them as healthy as possible.

“You have to build your facility and take part in the program, and you’ll get assigned animals that you can keep, and we’ll be getting a few more as well to join the family in the near future.”

Mrs Robinson said there was definitely interest among the locals.

“A lot of people out west don’t want to go all the way to the coast,” she said.

“So having them here, they’ll get that opportunity to come see animals that they wouldn’t normally see.”

Mrs Robinson said she wanted to ensure people that were worried about the penguins in the heat, that it would be all right.

“A lot of people are concerned about the heat of the penguins being so far north, but they are found quite far up the New South Wales coast, and they’re kept at the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and no one’s had any problems,” she said.

“We just need to set up fans and things like that to keep them cool if it gets really hot.

“But of course, they’ve got the luxury of a lovely swimming pool, I know all the keepers are quite jealous of their swimming pool.”

Meanwhile, after more than a year of having the Zoo up for sale, the property is still up for grabs.

“We still have some people interested, and there’s some new people also having a look at it shortly,” she said.

“It takes a certain type of person, it’s not something that even just any animal lover can do.”