By Staff at the zoo at Sewerby Hall and Gardens are celebrating a very special birthday today, as Rosie, the Humboldt penguin, turns 31!
Rosie the Humboldt penguin has reached her 31st birthday and the zoo staff believe that she is the oldest Humboldt penguin in the world.
Head zookeeper John Pickering said “I am delighted that we can have visitors in the zoo this year to see Rosie on her big day, unlike on her 30th birthday last year! We can’t organise a big event for her under the current circumstances, but we will make sure that she is well cared for on the day and the centre of attention!
“She is a grand old lady, Rosie has been with us since 1990, and has successfully hatched chicks over the years.”
Rosie and her friends at the zoo!
A watermelon and sprats cake was prepared by zoo staff for Rosie’s birthday party, which was due to be attended by fellow penguins and visitors.
BBC released some fun facts saying the scientific name for Humboldt penguins is spheniscus humboldti. Humboldts are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Humboldt penguins are very social and live in large colonies, they can live up to 20 years in the wild and they can travel through water at speeds of up to 25mph!
Mr Pickering also added “She doesn’t have to work for the fish, we hand feed her so she doesn’t have to compete with the others.
“Their predators in the wild would be leopard seals, but obviously there are no leopard seals here. She is a grand old lady. The life expectancy of Humboldt penguins in the wild is 15 to 20.”
The zoo is open daily from 10am – 4.30pm. Day passes for the gardens and zoo cost £5 for adults, and £3.50 for children aged three-15. A family day pass, which includes two adults and two children, costs £15.
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