​5 Little Blue Penguins​ Moved From Birch Aquarium To Cincinnati Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — Five Little Blue Penguins recently moved 2,000 miles from La Jolla to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The penguins are part of an international Species Survival Plan that works to maintain the genetic diversity of certain species in zoos and aquariums.

The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego opened the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins Exhibit in July, bringing the world's smallest penguins to the western United States for the first time.

The habitat became home to Little Blue Penguins, who arrived from facilities in Australia and Dallas, Texas. SSP coordinators recommended that five of the penguins — Sheldon, Squid, Craig, Odette and Bo — become part of new breeding colonies at the Cincinnati Zoo.

"Collaboration with other institutions is essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving penguin population across the U.S.," said Jenn Nero Moffatt, senior director of animal care, science and conservation at Birch Aquarium. "And now, for the first time, we will transfer five of our Little Blues to another institution. We have been fortunate to provide a temporary home to these seabirds throughout our exhibit opening and busy summer months."

Ten of the seabirds will remain in the 2,900-square-foot exhibit at Birch Aquarium, including Magic, Cornelius, Reka, Nero, Katie, Persimmon and Azulito.

The Cincinnati Zoo is home to the largest and most successful breeding colonies of Little Blue Penguins in North America, according to Birch Aquarium. The zoo's new habitat, Roo Valley, which houses Little Blues and two species of kangaroo, opened in 2020. The zoo started with six Little Blues in 1999 and has hatched more than 100 chicks since then. The current habitat is home to 34 Little Blue Penguins.

"We will all miss these penguins very much," said Kayla Strate, assistant curator of birds at Birch Aquarium. "You get quite attached to the animals in your care, but it is so important to the health of the population to participate in these transfers. We are proud to play a role in making this program successful. It will be fun to hear updates about their new colony and whether they pair with others and raise their own chicks one day."

The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins Exhibit allows visitors to come face-to-face with the seabirds as they "waddle, swim and glide about their new home," according to the aquarium. The habitat is the first seabird exhibit in the history of the aquarium. It features an 18,000-gallon pool, multiple cozy burrows, a sandy beach and native plants that mimic the coast of Australia and New Zealannd, where the little blue penguins can be found in the wild.

Since the exhibit opened, Birch Aquarium has seen visitation numbers rebound to near pre-pandemic levels, having welcomed 146,000 guests in the first three months alone.