Rare penguin called Pingu turns 23 at Dudley Zoo

Last updated Thu 24 Apr 2014

• UK
• Dudley Zoo

Pingu, with keeper Kriss Pearson Credit: Dudley Zoological Gardens

Dudley Zoological Gardens' oldest rare penguin has turned 23 today, and celebrated by getting the first pick of the fish.

Pingu is a Humboldt penguin, which are classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN red data list. They originate along the South American coastline in areas reached by the Humboldt current. The penguins are named after German scientist, Alexander Von Humboldt, who explored the region in the late 1700s.

Celebrations for Pingu's birthday will continue tomorrow too, as it is World Penguin Day, which coincides with the annual northern migration of penguins.

His keeper, Kriss Pearson said:

Pingu is a very special penguin to us as he was one of just five hand-reareds who started our colony back in 1991. It’s because of him that we now have 67 parent-reared penguins in the bay, which is one of the largest colonies of Humboldt penguins in the UK.

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