The first penguins to hatch at the park have left their nest boxes
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Sealife park staff who expected one of their endangered penguins to hatch her first egg on Good Friday have been met with disappointment.
Walnut, a Humboldt penguin, excited staff at Dorset's Weymouth Sea Life Park when it became clear her 40-day incubation period would end at Easter.
Checks have now shown that the egg is not fertile, a spokeswoman said.
But meanwhile the park's first ever penguins to hatch have left their nest boxes for the first time.
'Trial run'
Holly was hatched on Christmas Day while Ivy came four days later.
It is hoped that two other penguins, Rowan and Maple, will hatch an egg during the first week of April.
Walnut, who was originally mistaken for a male, is now expected to have her first real egg in December.
Spokeswoman Emma Eden said that it was often the case that a penguin's first egg proved to be a "trial run".
She added: "It was very disappointing."
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