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African Penguin

(Spheniscuc demersus)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to a thriving colony of African penguins.  Thirty adult penguins currently call our zoo home. Their habitat is outdoors along the Rocky Coasts.

Animal Facts

The Zoo has hatched over 100 penguins, most of which have been sent to other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.
African penguins have up to 70 feathers per square inch. These feathers are stiff and overlap in layers, trapping air against their skin. This makes their feathers both windproof and waterproof.
Seneca Park Zoo partners with SANCCOB, the largest volunteer-based wildlife organization in the world. Volunteers rehabilitate thousands of coastal birds every year that fall victim to oil spills or are orphaned due to lack of fish.
They will generally pair bond for life.
These penguins molt once a year; molt takes 20 days.

Diet

African penguins are carnivorous, eating fish and crustaceans. They rely heavily on sardines and anchovies, which are being overfished by humans.

Status in The Wild

  • Endangered

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

African penguins live in large colonies along the coast of southern Africa, and prefer water temperatures between 40°F and 70°F. They use their own excrement, called guano, to build nests under bushes and rocks.

The biggest threats to African penguins are rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and oil spills.

Learn About Our Conservation Efforts

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