Zoo horror as penguin is found decapitated in its enclosure, with its head left beside its body, prompting police hunt for killer

A penguin has been found decapitated in his enclosure with his head next to his body, prompting police to hunt for the killer.

Zookeepers made the terrible find this morning as they entered the enclosure of the Rostock Zoo in northern Germany to clean it, according to tabloid newspaper Image reports.

A decapitated Humboldt penguin was found lying on the ground with its severed head next to it and a bloody stone.

Police say it’s not clear if the penguin was killed at the location where his body was found, or if he was moved.

Because the head was cut off, an attack by another animal seems unlikely, zookeepers say.

Police spokeswoman Dörte Lemke confirmed the investigation and told Bild: “Due to the way the Humboldt penguin was found, it cannot be ruled out at this time that the animal died due to outside influences.

“A forensic team from the Rostock Police Department is currently securing evidence at the discovery site at the zoo.”

Police are also investigating a possible case of burglary.

Unfortunately, a motive for the possible murder of the penguin is not yet known.

The body has been taken to the State Bureau of Agriculture for further investigation, but the results are still pending.

As a humboldt penguin, the seabird is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s endangered species list.

The Rostock Zoo is home to more than 6,500 animals from more than 500 species and is the largest animal park in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

It has been awarded the ‘Best European Zoo Award’ several times.

There have been no attacks or assaults by third parties registered with the zoo in recent years.