Latest news with #TheNewEnglandAquarium
Axios
26-03-2025
- Science
- Axios
New England Aquarium launches penguin "retirement home"
The New England Aquarium has built a specialized "retirement home" area for elderly African penguins that significantly exceed their wild life expectancy and now need special care. Why it matters: African penguins are endangered, as wild populations are threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing of food sources. Geriatric animal care requires specialized environments to match the physical and behavioral needs of extraordinarily aged wildlife. By the numbers: Six penguins already reside in the old folks portion of the aquarium's penguin exhibit. Over half the aquarium's colony has met or surpassed the typical wild life expectancy for penguins of about 10-15 years. The oldest residents include Harlequin and Durban, both 32, and 34-year-old Boulders. Zoom in: The special island within the exhibit features flat surfaces with specialized mats and more ways for staff to monitor the animals.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Watch: Geriatric penguins get new ‘retirement island' at New England Aquarium
The Brief The New England Aquarium in Boston expanded its penguin exhibit to better observe their "geriatric penguin" population. African penguins typically live between 10 and 15 years in the wild. Some of the penguins at the aquarium either meet or exceed the typical life expectancy. The New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, expanded its penguin habitat after "more than half" of the colony met or surpassed the species' typical life expectancy in the wild. "Our goal is to take a proactive approach to managing geriatric animals in an environment that better meets their physical and behavioral needs," said Kristen McMahon, the Aquarium's Curator of Pinnipeds and Penguins. The backstory African penguins typically live between 10 and 15 years in the wild, according to the aquarium. More than half of the penguins that are in the aquarium's care are living far longer than that. To accommodate their aging penguins, the aquarium created a separate island from the main penguin colony that would provide the animal care team with a bird's eye view to easily monitor the animals. "Careful records are kept on each penguin's behavior, feedings, and more so that staff can quickly spot changes that might be indicative of ailments that afflict older penguins, such as foot injuries and cataracts," according to an aquarium news release. Aquarium staff transitioned six penguins to their new island home over the past month. Harlequin: 32 years old Durban: 32 years old Boulders: 34 years old Isis: 29 years old Lambert: 32 years old Dyer: 14 years old What they're saying "We think of this island like assisted living, where we're helping the birds be more comfortable in a calmer environment," said Diana Major, Manager of Penguins. Dig deeper African penguins are a critically endangered species, according to the aquarium. The main threats plaguing these animals are climate change, habitat loss and pollution. The species typically lives on the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. These penguins, like many others, enjoy eating small fish such as anchovies, sardines and horse mackerel. They can grow to be between 23 and 25 inches tall and can weigh five to nine pounds. The Source Information for this article was gathered from The New England Aquarium in Boston and Storyful. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
