Record-breaking African penguin dies

Pat the penguin. Photo credit: Living Coasts

UK - Living Coasts’ champion penguin has died. Pat, the oldest known female African penguin in the UK, celebrated her 37th birthday on 20 January this year. She was thought to have been the second-oldest penguin in Europe.

Pat, also known as number 1389, was euthanased by zoo vets due to advanced arthritis.

Living Coasts spokesperson Phil Knowling said, “Her quality of life had declined because of arthritis – the only thing to do was to put her to sleep.

Juan the macaroni penguin tries the African penguin lifestyle

Photo credit: Living Coasts

UNITED KINGDOM - A penguin at Living Coasts in Torquay is turning the natural order of things inside out. Macaroni penguin Juan has chosen to nest in a way usually reserved for African penguins - a species that he wouldn't be likely to meet in the wild.

First-time parents 17-year-old Juan and his partner, 7-year-old Pebbles, have rejected the company of the other macaroni penguins on their rocky beach, preferring instead to breed down a hole, alongside scores of African penguins.

Sad news as penguin with "puppet parent" dies

UK - Sadly, the macaroni penguin chick at Living Coasts in Torquay, Devon, whose keepers were using a glove puppet to feed it has died.

The chick's unusual meal time routine made headlines worldwide earlier this month. Keepers had decorated the glove so that it resembled an adult macaroni penguin, with the idea that the chick wouldn't get too used to humans.

Exhibit manager Clare Rugg told the Press Association, "Keepers reported that the youngster ate less than usual on Sunday and had lost a bit of weight.

"On Monday morning, it was off its food, the vet was called, it was given rehydration fluid and critical care. But it sadly died later in the day."

Living Coasts' director, Elaine Hayes, said, "Working with animals has its ups and downs, and this is definitely a down."

Read related post: Puppet parent for abandoned chick

Source
Penguin chick fed by keepers' puppet at Devon Zoo dies, 15 June 2011, BBC News

Puppet parent for abandoned chick

UK - A macaroni penguin chick at Living Coasts in Torquay, Devon, who was abandoned by its parents before it hatched has a new parent - a glove puppet! By using the puppet to feed the chick, staff are hoping to stop it imprinting on humans.

The puppet is made from a black rubber industrial glove decorated with red eyes and yellow plumes to look like an adult macaroni penguin.

Exhibit manager Clare Rugg told the Press Association, "This way contact is kept to a minimum - yes, the chick will hear and see keepers, but it will also see the glove which has the shape and colour of an adult penguin."

The chick's parents abandoned the egg after one of them became ill, because it usually takes two birds to incubate an egg. The adult bird has since recovered.

Living Coasts director Elaine Hayes said, "We decided to hand rear because the egg was fertile but would not have survived and there are not many macaroni penguins in the UK."

The staff feed the chick using the puppet parent every three hours between 8.30am and 8.30pm by syringe. Its meals are a warm blended mixture of filleted herring, krill, vitamins and water, which senior keeper Lois Rowell said "looks and smells like a pink fish milk shake."

She added, "We don't mind the chick becoming familiar with us so long as it knows it's a macaroni penguin and recognises what one looks like, hence the glove."

Staff are also playing the chick recordings of macaroni penguin sounds so it will get used to the sounds of the birds it will, in due course, be living with.

Sources 
Abandoned penguin chick thinks glove is its mother, 3 June 2011, The Telegraph
Penguin fooled into thinking a puppet is its parent, 3 June 2011, The Guardian
Penguin impressions help rear chick in Devon, 3 June 2011, BBC News

No pity necessary for Mrs T

UNITED KINGDOM -  She may have lost an eye, but a macaroni penguin at Living Coasts in Devon is doing well.

Mrs T, described as a very laid-back penguin with good manners, was treated last September for a deep ulcer in the corner of her left eye. Unfortunately, the treatment did not work and she lost her sight in that eye. A specialist medical glue was used, but the eye became infected and animal experts decided that the best course of action would be to remove it.

"The eye became infected, the penguin was very subdued due to discomfort so we opted to remove the source of pain," zoo vet Sarah Chapman told the media.

The delicate eye operation was performed at South Devon Referrals by Veterinary Specialist Ophthalmologist Jim Carter and fellow vet Ian Sayers. 

Ms Chapman said, "Jim has the equipment and the experience for this intricate work. Having his specialist knowledge close to hand was invaluable."

The penguin recuperated at Paignton Zoo’s Vet Centre before returning to Living Coasts. Mrs T is very close to her mate, and when she returned "she ran out of her crate to be reunited with Mr T, which was very moving," said Living Coasts Director Elaine Hayes.

Ms Hayes continued, "She has had to learn how to swim and feed with just one eye, and to deal with the crowds of other penguins and the occasional spot of aggression that goes along with life in a busy penguin colony."

"We are confident that she will settle back in and hope she will breed."

Sources
A penguin at Living Coasts Aquarium is doing well after losing an eye by Philip Knowling, 15 April 2011, Zoo and Aquarium Visitor
Penguin thrives despite losing an eye, 15 April 2011, Indepedent.ie