Humboldt penguin

Penguins are birds that cannot fly but are good swimmers and divers. Contrary to popular belief, several species live in warm areas.

The South American penguin

Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) live in large colonies along the coasts of Peru and Chile. There, the climate is warm most of the year, but the sea where they look for food is very cold. Penguins eat fish, and if they can't find any fish close to land they can swim very far to find them.

Sharing everyday chores

Humboldt penguins become pairs that often stay together for life, with the parents taking turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. Their feathery plumage prevents them from following their parents into the water for the first few months, but after a few months they are ready to manage on their own.

Made for living in the water

Penguins lost their ability to fly millions of years ago, but they have instead become skilled swimmers and divers. The small feathers are densely packed together and make the plumage insulating and waterproof. Their wings are used as fins and, thanks to strong pectoral muscles and a flexible spine, they move effortlessly in the water.

The colors camouflage

Their black and white plumage serves as a perfect camouflage. When a penguin swims in the sea, birds of prey find it difficult to distinguish its black back in the dark water. At the same time, the predatory fish peering up to the surface have difficulty seeing the penguin's white belly against the bright sky.

Quick facts

Food: Fish
Weight: Around 4 kg
Height: Approximately 50 cm
Mating season: Varies
Young: 1–2 chicks
Lifespan: Up to 17 years

The Humboldt penguin is declining in numbers

Human activities affect penguins

There are many threats to the Humboldt penguin, which has declined in numbers over the last 200 years.

  • Less food available due to climate change and overfishing.
  • Climate change leading to severe storms that kill birds.
  • Disturbances from humans and rats resulting in fewer chicks.
  • Nesting sites being destroyed when penguin droppings are collected for use as fertilizer.
  • Marine debris harming and killing penguins.
  • Risk of drowning due to fishing nets that the penguins get caught in.

The penguins in Slottskogen help the species

Slottskogen's penguins are part of a conservation project headed by the European Zoological Society. As the future of penguins is determined by human choices, the most important task right now is to raise awareness of what changes need to be made.

It's also important to follow and monitor the penguins in the wild because of the many threats they face. A key part of doing this is identifying individual penguins. The penguins in Slottskogen have helped in the development of a method of identifying penguins using photos. That's because penguins have spots on their chests that form a unique identifying pattern – much like our fingerprints.

Our choices affect species living on the other side of the globe. By choosing sustainably caught fish and reducing your own carbon footprint, you too can help the penguins.