It was the bad boys who swum to the top of this year's Penguin of the Year awards preliminary round.
The National Aquarium of New Zealand's inaugural competition gathered 2656 votes from 66 countries on its closing at midnight last night.
Notoriously naughty penguins Timmy and Mo emerged from the colony to take the top spots, with voters seemingly wooed by their antics.
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Timmy, the first ever winner of the aquarium's Naughty Penguin of the Month award has been known for stealing fish and pushing his mates around.
"He's not a bad dude. He's just trying to be the best penguin he can be. He just falls short sometimes. But doesn't everyone?", said Adam, a voter from New Zealand.
Timmy's bad behaviour couldn't outshine the four-time Naughty Penguin of the Month winner, Mo, known for being "boisterous, hoarding nesting materials and stealing fish from other penguin's mouths," said Sakura Parker-Iida, National Aquarium of New Zealand penguin keeper.
"Mo may be the naughtiest," said voter Tyahna, from the US, "but his hard work and dedication to maintaining that title earns him this award".
Both penguins were rescued by the aquarium and its staff after injuries and abandonments left them struggling in the wild.
Voting has opened for the final round of the Penguin of the Year.
Cast a vote for Timmy or Mo on the aquarium's website, Facebook page, or Instagram before the 28th of October. The Winner will be announced on the 30th.
Newshub.
