Leaves behind 230 descendants to rebuild the penguin population at Zoos across North America
BALTIMORE, MD – African penguin #821, known for generations as “Mr. Greedy,” was euthanized at Maryland Zoo following an age-related decline in his health. At 33 years, he was the oldest penguin in the Zoo’s colony.
During his long life, Mr. Greedy made a tremendous contribution to his endangered species with an astounding 230 descendants through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Penguin Species Survival Plan© (SSP).
According to Jen Kottyan, Maryland Zoo’s Bird Curator and Program Leader of the African Penguin SSP, penguin #821/Mr. Greedy outlived the median life expectancy of African penguins which is 18 years for both males and females.
“This one bird was incredibly important to the continued existence of African penguins throughout the world,” Kottyan said. “It’s tough to lose an animal who has been such a welcome presence at our Zoo for three decades, but all of us are proud that he is survived by five generations of offspring.”
Mr. Greedy’s lifelong mate, penguin #832 (aka “Mrs. Greedy”), is now the Zoo’s oldest penguin. Both birds hatched in 1991 and arrived at the Zoo in 1992.
“They had been paired up from the time they hit reproductive age in 1994,” Kottyan said.
The Penguin Coast zookeepers are monitoring penguin #832/Mrs. Greedy. Her behavior will determine what happens next. If she shows interest, the Zoo will pair her with a single male in the colony as a companion.
Among the pair’s numerous offspring, the oldest is 28 years old and currently lives in another facility. Several live at Maryland Zoo, including a fifth-generation descendant named Olive, who is not part of the breeding colony but lives in the Animal Embassy where she helps educate visitors about these amazing animals and the threats they face in the wild.
Visitors to Maryland Zoo can see the birds in the award-winning Penguin Coast, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. For a closer look, guests may reserve a penguin encounter – a private, keeper experience with special photo opportunities.
Penguin #821/Mr. Greedy is in the center of this photo with a purple, brown, and black ID band.
#821/Mr. Greedy is at the left in this photo (with the most spots on his belly).
African Penguins at Maryland Zoo
Maryland Zoo is home to the largest colony of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in North America and has successfully bred more than 1,000 chicks. The birds are one of the Zoo’s Signature Animal Programs and among its most popular visitor attractions.
To underscore the strong tie between the colony in Baltimore and conservation work halfway around the world, the Zoo’s award-winning Penguin Coast habitat is reminiscent of the fishing villages you might encounter along the western coast of South Africa and Namibia, where these penguins live in the wild.
Despite being a protected species, the number of wild African penguins has declined dramatically. There is a real chance the birds will become extinct within ten years.
Penguin colonies compete with commercial fishermen for access to their main food source. They are also vulnerable to ocean pollution, including spills from oil tankers and human disturbances on penguin nesting grounds.
For years the Zoo’s penguin team has been traveling to support a seabird rescue facility in South Africa. Maryland Zoo is also a founding member of a similar facility that is getting up and running in Namibia.
Click here for information about African penguins.
Click here for the updates on Maryland Zoo’s penguin conservation in the wild.
Click here for information about penguin encounters.
Share this article