内容摘要：The decision was made despite calls for a delay after an "unprecedented" 79 emails from concerned firefighters, according to the

The decision was made despite calls for a delay after an "unprecedented" 79 emails from concerned firefighters, according to the

He is thought to be the oldest king penguin in the world at 40 years of age.Seth's competition to become the world's most popular penguin includes

, and Ike from ABQ BioPark Zoo, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with voting due to happen in rounds.Organised by Penguins International, the competition involves 48 birds from around the world, nominated by zoos, aquariums, and museums.Mr Cox says that at mealtimes Seth is fed a herring that has half a vitamin tablet in its mouth, and that the penguin is distinguished from the others due to his "celebrity strut".

"Fundamentally, he is 40 years old, so it's probably a bit of arthritis, hence the fact we're giving him his medication," he said."We like to call it his Hollywood swagger, especially as he's been in the Batman Returns movie."

Mr Cox said Seth was one of "six or eight penguins" flown to Hollywood in crates of ice to star in the 1992 film.

"They formed part of Danny DeVito's evil penguin army in the movie," he said."I was having to go to meetings and collect donations. I could just about hold it together. If I'd been crying, I'd put on dark glasses."

The stress and hardship soon took its toll on Amanda's health and she ended up in hospital with pneumonia.For most people, such a health scare would have been disastrous. But for Amanda, the hospital ward provided sanctuary.

"The hospital knew and they sort of pampered me a bit," she said."I was just glad of a bed and a bathroom. It was clean. It felt luxury to me."