Animals
African or Blackfooted Penguin
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African or Blackfooted Penguin


African or Blackfooted Penguin 0 African or Blackfooted Penguin 1 African or Blackfooted Penguin 2
African or Blackfooted Penguin 3
Photo Credit: Doug Kjos

Found in Wild: costal islands off southern and southwestern Africa

  • Only three of the 18 penguins species live exclusively in the Antartic area; the others live in temperate sub-tropical or tropical regions.

Size and Description:

  • Grayish-black, white chest, with a black horseshoe shaped band across the chest and down sides to feet
  • Height: 18 inches tall
  • Weight: 6-7 pounds
  • Short legs, webbed feet and flippers
Diet (zoo): capelin and smelt
Diet (wild): fish (sardines, squid)

Interesting Facts:
  • Spend half its life at sea
  • Called Jackass Penguin because of its bray-like call
  • Eats only under water in wild
  • Cannot swim while molting. All feathers lost at once.
    Must live on body fat for 2-6 weeks.
  • Lives 18 years in wild, 25 in captivity.
  • Predators are seals, octopi, sharks, and large fish.
    Eggs are prey to birds and small mammals
  • Pool: 56 feet long, 5 feet deep
    Throughout the summer, the temperature of the pool averages about 70 - 80 degrees.
  • Our penguins need temperature of 40 degrees or warmer.
  • The colored bands are for identification
  • Greatest threats in wild are marine pollution, commercial fishing, and humans gathering their eggs.

Hours

May: 10am - 6pm
June-August: 10am - 8pm
September: 10am - 6pm

The Zoo will re-open Saturday, April 26, 2008

 


Admission
$6.00, ages 13 & up
$3.00, ages 4-12
Free, ages 3 & under

Wagons & Strollers

$2.14 Wagon

$1.07 Stroller