6 African Penguins Waste No Time Exploring New Home At Florida Aquarium

TAMPA, FL — Fresh off the boat, so to speak, six African penguins waddled into The Florida Aquarium Thursday where they were greeted by a cadre of staff members and volunteers eager to help them adjust to their new permanent home in Tampa.

In July, aquarium animal caretakers and volunteers were devastated when seven of the aquarium's 10 resident penguins inexplicably died.

Most of the seven African penguins had lived at the aquarium since 2006.

They were often seen taking daily walks through the aquarium, following their caretaker in military-like fashion, resembling tiny soldiers in tuxedos.

Occasionally, one or two members of the penguin colony would wander away from the group to greet some young aquarium visitors or check out a new exhibit. After satisfying their curiosity, they'd promptly waddle back in line.

When the aquarium was forced to close to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, the penguin colony, also known as a waddle, had the run of the facility. They investigated the kids' outdoor water zone, gazed longingly at the tasty squid swimming behind the aquarium's glass windows, and even took a ride on the aquarium's elevator.

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The cause the seven penguins' deaths remains a mystery. Necroscopy results were inconclusive, as was additional testing by shorebird experts.

Tim Binder, senior vice president of animal care and health at the aquarium, said the facility left no stone unturned in its efforts to understand what happened to the penguins.

"While we may never know what triggered this heartbreaking event, the investigation did confirm that the care given to our penguins met the highest industry welfare standards and all operating procedures were followed," Binder said.

The remaining four penguins at the aquarium never showed any signs of illness.

Now, Binder, senior penguin biologist Maegen Gentry and the rest of the team are looking forward to getting better acquainted with the new feathered residents, who will assume the role of their predecessors as ambassadors for their species.

“There is no better way to inspire empathy and action for these endangered species than by seeing animals up close and learning their stories,” Binder said. “But it doesn’t stop with our amazing conservation ambassadors. We are committed to increasing our involvement in scientific research and conservation initiatives."

The zoo is a participant in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. Gentry's team at the aquarium work closely with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town, South Africa, to rehabilitate sick and injured penguins and find ways to stabilize the remaining wild penguin colonies along the central Nambian coast to Algoa Bay off the coast of South Africa.

On Thursday morning, after being freed from their travel carriers, the aquarium's newest residents promptly acquainted themselves with their new home and remaining resident penguins at the aquarium.

“The penguins all integrated successfully and safely,” Binder said.

With the new colony in place, the aquarium plans to continue its fundraising campaign to build a penguin habitat.

Currently, the aquarium has no public penguin exhibit. The birds can only be seen by the public during their twice daily walks through the aquarium with their caretakers. In between, they live in a habitat that's inaccessible to the public.

African penguins can live as long as 30 years in captivity. In the wild, where they're at the mercy of sharks, Orca whales, seals and other predators, their life spans are shorter.

In the early 20th century, breeding pairs of penguins numbered in the millions. Today, there are less than 42,000 African penguins, and they've been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2010.