Two Welsh tourists who broke into an Australian theme park and stole a penguin following a drunken night out have each been fined Aus$1,000.
Rhys Owen Jones, 21, and Keri Mules, 20, appeared before magistrates in Brisbane today and pleaded guilty to trespassing, stealing and keeping a protected animal.
They were arrested after breaking into Sea World on Queensland's Gold Coast during an alcohol-fuelled escapade on 14 April.
They also swam with dolphins and let off a fire extinguisher in a shark enclosure, according to AAP news agency.
The men, who were in Australia on a working holiday visa, snuck into the animal park along with Australian James Vasilj, 18, after drinking 1.5 litres of vodka between them at a beach party.
The two Welshmen then snatched a fairy penguin called Dirk from an aquarium before waking up with the flightless bird in their apartment the following day.
Their lawyer Bill Potts told Southport Magistrates' court they meant no harm to the animal and tried to care for it by feeding it and putting it in the shower when they woke up with hangovers.
Jones and Mules took photos and video footage of the animal before releasing it into a canal, but were arrested after a friend saw updates they had posted about their antics on Facebook and reported them to police.
The seven-year-old bird was later spotted by a member of the public, rescued unharmed and returned to Sea World before it was reunited with girlfriend Peaches.
The little bird escaped an encounter with a dog and possibly a shark before his rescue.
Mr Potts told magistrate Brian Kucks that the tourists' actions were immature and stupid, but there was no malice involved, according to reports.
The court also heard how the pair had written a letter of apology to Sea World and the Australian public and deeply regretted their actions.
