African penguins
While films like March of the Penguins have highlighted the species’ seemingly unbreakable fidelity, the reality is that penguins, like those in our African and southern rockhopper colonies, can be a bit fickler. Long-term pairing is the norm, and many penguins will pair up for most of their lives—but penguin “breakups” can still happen. Sometimes, birds are only together for one or a few breeding seasons.
Preening, loud calls, headshaking, and bowing are all behaviors the birds will display for their partners. They’re also territorial, and pairs will stake out a spot on the exhibit islands to call their own. Over on “retirement island,” where elder African penguins enjoy a slower pace of life, Lambert and his younger mate Dyer have laid claim to the very top of the island. While Lambert takes it easy, Dyer can be spotted swimming around the exhibit.
The birds often pair up organically, but occasionally our Animal Care staff does a bit of “matchmaking.” African penguins are critically endangered in the wild, and here at the Aquarium, we participate in a Species Survival Program (SSP), which supports field conservation efforts as well as responsible breeding to promote a sustainable future for these endangered penguins.
Namibia IV was donated to the New England Aquarium from the Georgia Aquarium as part of the SSP and was “set up” with Jahleel III, a then single male. They quickly formed a bond and have now successfully hatched several chicks together! When visiting the Aquarium, you can spot this couple by their green and orange bracelets on their wings—Jahleel’s is on the left, and Namibia’s is on the right