A veterinarian examined an endangered African blackfooted penguin chick at the Monterey Bay Aquarium shortly after its hatching in August 2013. (Contributed -- Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder)

MONTEREY - Over the weekend, three endangered African blackfooted penguins died at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Zuri and Betty, both female penguins, died on Friday unexpectedly, with post-mortem evaluations showing signs of dehydration. Tranya, a male penguin, died Saturday evening after being treated with fluids for dehydration and lack of eating, Dr. Mike Murray, the aquarium's director of veterinary services, said.

After the female penguins died Friday, aquarium aviculturists conducted behavioral evaluations on all 17 birds left in the aquarium's penguin exhibit, including Tranya, looking for any abnormalities. Tranya and three other birds were removed from the exhibit and monitored.

An African blackfooted penguin, similar to those that died over the weekend at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The exhibit was briefly closed while aquarium
An African blackfooted penguin, similar to those that died over the weekend at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The exhibit was briefly closed while aquarium officials placed the surviving birds under observation. The cause of death is still under investigation. (Courtesy photo - Monterey Bay Aquarium)

The other three were returned to the exhibit Sunday morning. Tranya died Sunday just after 8 p.m.
Preliminary exams did not show an obvious cause of death, only suggestions of dehydration. Officials are waiting for lab results, which could take a few weeks, to pinpoint what went wrong.
Following the deaths, there are 16 African blackfooted penguins left in the aquarium's exhibit, aquarium spokeswoman Angela Hains said. All bird continue to be monitored.

Zuri, had just turned 12 last week, is survived by Pringle, her mate, and her 3-year-old chick, Tola.
Betty, 6, passed away leaving her partner, Seekoei, and her sibling, Sabie, behind. Tranya was a 16-year-old penguin who came from New Orleans and is survived by his partner, Molopo."One might say penguins and drama go together. I suspect there will be a bit of a kerfuffle as birds look to readjust mates and nest sites," Dr. Murray said.

The exhibit was briefly closed on Friday and was reopened Sunday morning, Hains said.

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