The recent removal of a penguin from Dublin Zoo is little more than a copy

of many similar pranks to have been sprung on zoos around the world.

If anything it was more of a ‘copycat prank’ than a ‘bird brained idea’!

A similar incident occurred in 2005 when an 18-inch baby penguin was stolen from the Amazon World zoo in southern England.

Earlier this year in Japan a security guard at the Nagasaki Bio Park noticed Akira Honda, ushering a Humboldt Penguin into his suitcase.

According to the zoo, that penguin was worth about £2,960.

Mr. Honda told police that he had run up debts which he intended to pay off by selling the creature.

Whatever the motivation for the Dublin incident the penguin has since been safely returned home apparently unharmed.

It was taken into custody by Store Street Gardai, who must have had a hard job putting handcuffs on a pair of wings!

It will be interesting to see what legislation will be brought to prosecute the culprits if they are apprehended.

They could face convictions for theft, cruelty to animals or possible prosecution under the wildlife legislation.

We await developments with interest.