ISOLATED penguins at Marwell Zoo will return to their enclosure after being given the all-clear for avian influenza.

Precautionary action was taken by the zoo, near Winchester, to protect the seven penguins.

This came after eight penguins died amid an outbreak in December.

Four died from the disease while a further four tested positive and, by law, had to be euthanised. 

Read more: Penguins killed by bird flu at Marwell Zoo

Since then the remaining seven penguins have all tested negative for the disease and the zoo is preparing to return them to their enclosure, along with the centre's flamingo population.

The flamingos also all tested negative for bird flu.

Access to walk-through aviaries and Energy For Life: Tropical House will continue to be restricted while the zoo works to keep the animals safe.

Marwell Zoo worked closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department of Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs after the outbreak.

A spokesperson for Marwell Zoo said it is "delighted" at the swift containment of the outbreak.

They added: "The penguins can be reintroduced to their pool and enclosure once we are given the all-clear to do so.

“Our flamingos have now been given access to the whole of their enclosure again and we are working with the relevant authorities to get the penguins back in their enclosure as soon as possible."

To meet APHA's requirements the zoo must implement a stringent programme of further cleaning and disinfection. It anticipates this will take until mid to late January at the earliest.

Justine Shotton, veterinary services manager, said: “The sooner the penguins return to their enclosure the better from a welfare perspective.

“As well as the risk of pododermatitis, a condition that affects the birds’ feet, aspergillosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection, is a real risk while the penguins are kept indoors.

“To help reduce these risks, all of our penguins are currently on antifungal medication and their condition is being regularly monitored.

“In cases like this, we have to weigh up the risks of having them outside, which allows for much higher welfare standards but with a risk of avian influenza, against the risks of associated health issues and poor welfare if we keep them indoors.”

She added that risk assessments would continue as avian influenza remained an issue all-year round.