Download Fact Sheet: African Penguin Spheniscus demersus In the Wild

Fact Sheet: African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Description:
• Size: 24-28 in (52-71 cm)
• Weight: 5-9 lbs
• Coloration:
o Black feathers on their back and white feathers with black markings on their
chest and belly
o Feet are set far back on their body and are mottled black and pink in color
o Juveniles are plain gray-black with a white belly
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
• Found only along the rocky coastline of southwest Africa – breed at 25 islands and four
mainland sites in Namibia and South Africa
• One of several penguin species that live in warmer climates
o Subtropical climate where there is a cold water upwelling
o Range is restricted to a relatively small area where water temperature does not
fluctuate greatly
o All penguin species live south of the equator
Diet:
• Carnivorous
o Feed on small crustaceans, squid and small fish such as sardines and anchovies
o Will eat about one pound of fish in a day
• They absorb water and nutrients from their diet but have also adapted to drink salt
water
Adaptations:
• Excellent swimmers
o Can swim up to 12 miles (20 km) per hour
o Feet are set far back on their bodies, acting like rudders to help steer as they
swim
o Torpedo shaped body and rigid wings that serve as flippers and propel penguins
through the water
o Can stay underwater for as long as 5 minutes when diving to catch fish
o Penguins have solid bones, making them heavier than other birds, which helps
them dive deeper than many other bird species in pursuit of fish
• Countershading for camouflage while swimming
o Their black back blends in with the darker waters below when viewed from
above, and their light abdomen blends in with the light coming from above when
viewed from below.
• Avoid overheating during the warmer months
o Can dissipate heat through flippers, feet and open beak – will stand so that their
shadow falls over their feet to cool the blood running through their feet which is
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African penguin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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then circulated through their entire body and cools them off
o Swimming in cool-cold water
o Nesting in burrows or under rocks
Thick, waterproof, insulating mat of feathers traps air close to their body and conserves
heat during the colder months and when swimming in the cold water
Three types of calls used
o Yell/contact call – used to defend territory from another colony member
o Bray/display call – used to attract mates
o Haw call – used to communicate between partners
Lifespan:
• Median life expectancy of about 17 years for males and 15 years for females in the wild
• May live up to about 30 years in captivity, but an age of 25 is more common.
Ecosystem relationships:
• Predators: Sharks, Cape fur seals and killer whales
• Avian predators such as kelp gulls and sacred ibises prey on eggs and chicks
• Mainland colonies are also preyed on by leopards, mongoose, genet, and domestic and
feral cats and dogs
• African penguins are social birds that live in colonies called rookeries – live and hunt
together in groups ranging in size from 50 to thousands of individuals.
Reproduction:
• Form monogamous pairs, meaning they often have one mate for life
o Courtship rituals begin with visual and auditory display by the male
o Mutual bond is ensured by a harsh vocal call with the head and neck extended
upwards
o Finally one or both penguins will bow (duck their head with their bill pointing
towards the nest site or the other penguin’s feet)
• Breeding takes place throughout the year
• Females construct a nest out of guano on the rocky shore and usually lay 2 eggs per
clutch
o Due to guano overharvesting, nest sites are frequently more exposed or
constructed from less suitable materials, contributing to the decline of this
species
• Both males and females take turns incubating the eggs for about a month
• Both males and females are involved in parental care of chicks once they hatch
• Chicks form crèches (groups of chicks) that are guarded by adults
o Cooperative care allows individual sets of parents to go out to sea to feed
o Both parents responsible for feeding the chicks at this time
• Chicks fledge at 60-130 days, but parents may continue to feed the young after fledging.
They have gray juvenile markings until they molt again in their second year and get their
distinctive black and white plumage.
Activity:
• Mostly diurnal
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The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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They spend the night gathered on the shore and feed in the water during the day
Other “fun facts”:
• Historically a significant source of guano
o Previously used as fertilizer which was sold around the world, overharvesting
contributed to the decline of African penguin populations.
• Often referred to as “jackass” penguins due to their distinctive braying call
• African penguins undergo an annual molt
o Feathers are important for waterproofing and camouflage and are replaced once
a year
o All birds molt, losing their old feathers and growing new ones
o African penguins undergo a “catastrophic molt,” meaning that they lose all of
their feathers at once
Before penguins molt, they gorge and put on a significant amount of
weight
During molt, they cannot swim to catch fish, so must fast during the
process
Conservation Status and Threats:
• Listed on the IUCN Red List as Endangered
• Undergoing a rapid population decline as a result of:
o Oil spills are a significant threat
o Over-fishing by some commercial fisheries results in food loss and disrupts the
marine ecosystem
o Disturbance by humans encroachment on beaches that penguins use for nesting
o Egg-collecting
• Historic decline due to habitat degradation caused by guano collection for fertilizer
o Degrades nest sites, leading to penguins nesting on open ground, which subjects
them to heat stress and predation
At the Zoo
The Zoo currently houses a colony of about 60 African penguins. The new exhibit Penguin Coast
will allow us to increase this number up to 100 penguins over time.
Penguin Coast has a number of features that provide for the highest quality penguin care as
well as a fantastic visitor experience. Please refer to the African Penguin Exhibit Fact sheet for
details.
The Zoo currently houses three penguin ambassadors that appear in on-site and off-site
education programs. All three of them hatched here at The Zoo.
• Tails hatched in zoo in 2004, and weighs approximately 6 lbs (2.5 kg).
• Winnie hatched in 2008 and weighs 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg).
• Peach hatched on December 27, 2010
• Lilly hatched in February 2014
• Dawn and Hope hatched in October 2014 and were named by a public naming contest
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African penguin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
What We Can Do
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Find out more about organizations working to save wild African penguins. Consider
donating time or money to help. SANCCOB (The Southern African Foundation for the
Conservation of Coastal Birds) is a non-profit organization that protects and
rehabilitates seabirds, including African penguins through oil spill response, research,
and education.
Support sustainable fisheries to help limit over-fishing, a factor in declining penguin
populations – The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program raises awareness
and helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans; their
recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives"
and which ones to "Avoid"
In 2014, The African Penguin was designated as a an AZA “SAFE” (Saving Animals From
Extinction) species. A conservation action plan is in development. Supporting your
local AZA accredited facilities (The Zoo!) can help these efforts.
We can all help slow climate change, a factor in declining fish, and therefore penguin,
populations
o Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reuse shopping bags
Compost organic food for use in the garden
o Cut down on electricity and gas use to limit carbon dioxide emissions
Try to use public transport, carpool, bike or walk
Buy energy efficient light bulbs and turn off lights when leaving a room
Turn off appliances when not in use
Bundle up when it is cold instead of turning up the heat
Find Out More:
SANCCOB: http://www.sanccob.co.za/
AZA SAFE: https://www.aza.org/SAFE-african-penguin/
Seafood Watch: http://www.seafoodwatch.org/
References:
• http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/birds/african-penguin/
• http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_splash/splash_animals_penguin.aspx
• http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/dzoo_bf_penguin.pdf
• http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003861/0
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Spheniscus_dem
ersus.html
• http://www.sanccob.co.za/ - The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of
Coastal Birds
• http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx - The Monterey Bay
Aquarium Seafood Watch program
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African penguin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
African Penguin Exhibit Fact Sheet
Penguin Colony
Number of birds
Capacity to increase the colony from 57 to 100 penguins
Penguin ambassadors
Capacity to increase from three birds to as many as eight
Physical penguin exhibit and support building
Total exhibit-area square footage
64,000 square feet, approximately 1.5 acres. This includes landscaping, pathways, buildings, etc.
Exhibit Total square footage
More than 10,500 square feet, including more dynamic rock work and natural substrates
Penguin Pool
175,000 gallons with maximum depth of 8’6”
There will be wave action pumps giving a slight current for penguins to swim with or against, as well as
a large “dump bucket” water feature which will fill up and spill creating huge splash near underwater
viewing area
Life Support System
Will filter and recycle the water in the penguin pool, saving 7 million gallons of water per year.
Conservation Center – The new exhibit building for penguin housing, breeding, and care will be
located on the island in the center of the exhibit and will serve as the center of animal operations for the
exhibit.
Interpretive Center – A two-level facility will include a multi-purpose room for education programs
and animal demonstrations, restrooms, indoor space for special events, and underwater viewing for
visitors.
Embassy Building for Traveling Collection – Building for the housing and care of penguins used in
education outreach programs, including a separate yard and pool, as the traveling collection cannot
intermingle with the breeding population.
Full Exhibit (area and building) 420 square feet. Pool 70 square feet, 1,800 gallons, additional indoor
pool.
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African penguin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Visitor Viewing Areas
Inside Interpretive Center
Indoor underwater viewing through glass
Multiple outdoor viewing areas where demonstrations and Keeper Chats will take place
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Demonstration wharf – An outdoor wharf opposite the Conservation Center will provide a space
where Keeper Chats will be held and from which live demonstrations can be viewed.
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Tidal Flat Penguin Panorama – An up close and personal outdoor viewing area where penguins
can gather on land next to the glass viewing wall and where Keeper Chats and live demonstrations
will be held.
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Wharf Edge viewing area – A rustic outdoor viewing wharf which extends out into the main pool
directly across from the Conservation Center will provide visitors with front row access to the
exhibit.
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Tidal Pool viewing area – A special outdoor viewing area overlooking the large self-contained
tidal pool providing wave action.
Design and building
Designed by CLRdesign, inc. a Philadelphia-based architecture, planning, landscape architecture,
and exhibit design firm.
Being built by Whiting Turner, a construction management and general contracting company based
in Baltimore, MD.
Budgeted cost of the penguin exhibit is $10.6 million, funding provided by the State, as well as
private donations and grants.
Estimated exhibit completion is late 2014 – early 2015.
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African penguin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore