Did you know?
Though they may look like
chicks, our little penguins are
fully grown. Little penguins are the
smallest of all penguins standing
about a foot tall and weighing
around two pounds.
the penguins were introduced to
the nursery — an area that will
serve as a place for any penguin
chicks to come — allowing them a
view of the display. Finally, our little
penguins were introduced to their
primary display area with its large
pool. The penguins have adapted
very well. Zoo keepers Bryan Lindsey
and Dana Prior are doing a great
job making them feel at home.
So how is caring for little penguins different from southern
rockhoppers? Gary Michaels said
he believes they are “more easygoing in general personality than
rockhoppers, although rockhoppers
are a lot of fun to work with too!”
The care of the two penguin species differs greatly because of their
climate preferences. “I’ve never had
to worry about a rockhopper being
too cold,” said Dana Prior. “The
two species are complete opposites.
We’ll have to ensure the rockhoppers don’t get too warm and the
little penguins don’t get cold.”
The little penguins are sure to
enjoy our warm summers — and
you’ll enjoy seeing them take a
dip in their chilled swimming pool.
However, as little penguins are more
sensitive to cold external temperatures, they won’t be outside year
round.
Louisville Zoo keepers are providing a slightly different diet to the
little penguins. “We offer capelin
and smelt to the rockhoppers,”
Dana explained, “However, the little
penguins are offered capelin and
anchovies. They don’t seem to care
for smelt, so for now we’ve stopped
offering it. I found that odd since
some of our rockhoppers treat smelt
like candy!”
While our little penguins in
Louisville are receiving top-notch
animal care, your Louisville Zoo is
also participating in an AZA Species
Survival Program project to conserve
the little penguin in partnership
with the Taronga Zoo, Sydney, the
Zoo and Aquarium Association of
Australia, New Zealand and Pacific
region, and the Government of
Australia.
“The little penguin faces many
threats in its native Australia,” said
Gary Michaels. “Predation by the
domestic dog and cat and introduced red fox are probably the
biggest threats. The species also
faces many other challenges such
as beach development and ocean
degradation. The Louisville Zoo is
working in partnership with AZA
facilities to breed the species so we
can sustain a population well into
the future.”
Birdlife International estimates
the wild population at just fewer
than one million. Although numerous, the species is on the decline as
a result of oil pollution, predation
by non-native wildlife and drowning in fishnets. The small size of
little penguins and the proximity of
their habitats to urbanization makes
them especially vulnerable to a variety of significant threats resulting
from human activities. Learn more
about what you can do to protect
little penguins and other penguin
species when you visit the Louisville
Zoo Islands zone!
Warm summer days are just
around the corner, so come bask
in the sun with our new little blue
friends. As you journey through
the Zoo, don’t forget to make like
a penguin and waddle over to the
Papa John’s Splash Park to cool off
— it’s free with Zoo admission!
Learn more about Penguin Cove
at louisvillezoo.org/penguincove.
Top of Page 12: Press Opening of
Penguin Cove on May 12, 2016.
Top of this page: Several little
penguins during the first visit to
Penguin Cove.
Penguin Cove,
Little Penguin
Conservation Center
Generously supported by
Paul Ogle Foundation, Inc.
Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Summer 2016 • 13