'Everyone has a Story': Stephanie and her penguin pals | News

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- "Everyone has a Story" and this next one is a wild adventure.  It takes us to the Little Rock Zoo and to Penguin Pointe. 

They're cute, a crowd favorite and can "cruise" through water. Penguin Pointe is a popular stop at the Little Rock zoo. And Stephanie Hollister gets to work with them five days a week.

From taking care of their every need to preparing their favorite meal, Hollister is mom to them all.

"I go home smelling like fish every night but I don't mind because I really like the penguins," says Hollister.

15 African Peguins call Penguin Pointe home. Four females and 11 males. They range in age from 3 to 21 years old.

Hollister says, "I love being able to do this job, there's nothing more rewarding to me then working with animals and teaching people about animals and specifically conservation."

The penguins have bands on their wings, each with their own unique color. But Hollister doesn't need the bands to tell them apart. She knows all their names and all their personalities.

Hollister came to Little Rock from the Denver Zoo. She's been the penguin keeper here for the past year.

She says, "Originally when I started working at the Denver Zoo, I really didn't have that much of an interest in birds. That grew after working with them."

In fact, one relationship ....

"Word's gotten around that Samson thinks I'm his girlfriend, really he was hand raised at the Memphis Zoo so he's really just friendly because of that and I work with him the most, so I'm the one he knows the most. If we got him a girl penguin, he'd forget all about me," says Hollister.

But seriously, Hollister really is close to some of these guys. Even accompanying them out in the community for out-reaches.

Hollister always knew she'd one day work with animals. At one time, she even thought about becoming a veterinarian, but decided she'd rather be their caretaker than their doctor. As for ever wanting to take one home?

Hollister says, "I always tell people that they make horrible, horrible pets. They poop about every 5 to 10 minutes and they need at least six penguins to be happy."

Despite that, Hollister loves her job and adores her penguin pals. And they adore her too!

Now as for the future, Hollister says it's up to wherever life takes her. But she definitely always sees herself working with animals.

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Find out who we meet next Wednesday night on the THV 10:00 Difference.