RACINE — The Racine
Zoological Society welcomed four male African penguins into its existing
penguin colony of three males and three females. All 10 African
penguins are currently on indoor exhibit through the winter but can be
seen through a special viewing window.
Bob,
born in 2006, is the largest of the four, weighing in at more than 10
pounds. Eon, born in 2007, loves to swim and eat fish off the floor.
Stevie, born in 2009, is shy with people but loves other penguins; and
Norman, the oldest of the new arrivals, was born in 1995 and is the
friendliest of the group, the Racine Zoo said in a statement.
All four penguins are on loan from Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies located in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
“Adding
birds to our existing penguin colony helps provide a more diverse and
stable habitat for breeding,” said Beth Heidorn, executive director of
the Racine Zoo. “Plus, it’s excellent socialization and keeps the
penguins mentally stimulated as they play and interact with one
another.”
The African penguin is medium-sized and the only species
of penguin found at the southern tip of Africa. African penguins can
remain underwater for about 2.5 minutes and dive more than 100 feet
below the surface. Wild penguins can eat up to 14 percent of their body
weight every day and favorite foods include anchovies, small fish,
squid, and shellfish. African penguins can live up to 20 years in the
wild and 30 to 40 years under human care.
There are 17 species of
penguin living in the world today. All species are protected from
hunting and egg collection; however, many of them are near threatened,
endangered or critically endangered as populations continue to decline.
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