Bald baby penguin abandoned by parents

Quirky China / Rex

You may think these are two completely different penguins but, in fact, they're the same baby penguin.

Born without feathers at the LHT Pole Aquarium in China, the penguin was abandoned by its parents just days after its birth.

Now, thanks to the efforts of keepers at the Aquarium in the Lianoning Province, it has been accepted back into the family.

The little penguin was born on 17 August and was ill treated by its parents in the first few days after its birth. A keeper said: "Its parents kicked it out from time to time, or even left it on the icy ground to let it die".

Keepers at the aquarium decided that the baby penguin's lack of feathers and weak condition was due to difficulties digesting food and absorbing nutrition.

Spokeswoman Wang Dan said: "In the beginning we tried to send it back to its parents, hoping they would still take care of it and help it grow stronger, but they neglected it and even kicked it out. We then decided to feed it by ourselves".

The aquarium set up a penguin group to care for the youngster around the clock. After a month of hand feeding the little penguin was much stronger and, to the delight of keepers, even grew feathers. It was then successfully re-introduced to its family group.

Quirky China / Rex