He said: “When I heard the penguins loved sardines but that the park thought they couldn’t get them, I thought: ‘Well, I might be able to help with that.'”

Lambourn said it was “great to see a local catch being used locally” and added: “They’ve got excellent taste.”

The new arrangement has proved popular with the penguins, including 38-year-old Spneb, who is believed to be the world’s oldest Humboldt penguin.

She recently marked her birthday with a meal of her favourite food of Cornish sardines.

David Woolcock, curator at Paradise Park, said staff were pleased to be sourcing the fish locally.

He said: “It’s a great example of how a simple conversation can lead to a really positive change.

“The sardines are caught just a short distance away and the penguins absolutely love them.”

Gus Caslake, Seafish industry engagement manager for South West England and chair of the Cornish Sardine Management Association, said the move reduced the need to transport fish long distances while highlighting the quality of the local catch.

He said: “This is a brilliant example of a local catch staying local, reducing the need to transport fish long distances and showcasing the quality of the Cornish sardine.”

Visitors can also learn more about the birds’ diet through a new information board beside the penguin pool, created in partnership with Cornish sardine fishermen.