Party time for our penguins!
It’s been a flippin’ fantastic day here at Newquay Zoo, as our Humboldt penguins celebrated a wave of birthdays with a very special penguin pool party!
Springtime is full of celebrations in our colony, with many of our penguins hatched in March and April – including our beloved Ebony, who just turned 28 years old last week! As our oldest penguin, Ebony is a real character and a firm favourite among visitors and staff alike. She’s also something of a matriarch here at the zoo – the mother and grandmother to several of our younger penguins.
We’re also getting ready to mark some adorable milestones – Lima, Marty and Santiago, three of last year’s chicks, are all turning 1 year old this month! Watching them grow and develop their own personalities has been a real treat for the team. And with several penguins currently nesting in our burrows, we’re hopeful for more chicks this year – so keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on any new fluffy arrivals!
To mark the occasion, our keepers pulled out all the stops. Dan and Mark whipped up some extra-special ‘fish cupcakes’ made of frozen sprats and ice (the ultimate birthday treat for a penguin!), while our Education Rangers hosted an engaging penguin talk and feed, giving visitors a chance to get to know our colony a little better.
While some of the penguins came out to party poolside, others are currently busy nesting in the burrows dotted around the enclosure. Keeper Mirjam stepped in to hand-feed these doting parents, making sure no one missed out on the fun – including Patch, Ebony’s long-time mate and father to many of her chicks.
After lunch came playtime, and one of the best parts of the day – bubbles! As part of our commitment to animal welfare, we regularly provide enrichment for our animals, encouraging natural behaviours and giving them opportunities to explore and engage with their environment in new ways. Our penguins particularly love to chase shadows on sunny days, and we recently discovered they’re fascinated by bubbles – especially Marty, our youngest and most playful penguin, who always leads the charge when the bubble machine comes out!
Whether you’re local or visiting for the holidays, it was the perfect way to kick off the Easter bank holiday weekend – full of feel-good fun, feathered friends and unforgettable family moments.
Penguin Birthdays – March & April Celebrations
Here’s a look at the penguins we’re celebrating this spring:
- Patch – 21 March
- Nacho – 22 March
- Ringo – 3 April
- Ebony – 9 April
- Robin – 10 April
- Williams – 10 April
- Taco – 13 April
- Humbug – 21 April
- Oreo – 22 April
- Lima – 26 April (1st birthday)
- Santiago – 26 April (1st birthday)
- Marty – 10 June (1st birthday)
- Churro – 30 June
Our Humboldt penguins are always up to something, and events like these are a great reminder of the joy and wonder wildlife brings to all of us. Even better, every visit helps support our conservation work protecting penguins and other species around the world.
So why not waddle on down and join the fun? And don’t forget to follow us on social media for chick news and behind-the-scenes moments from the colony! Book online for the best price here.
