Project Penguin
A Black Footed Penguin Conservation Initiative
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We are delighted to announce four African Black-footed Penguins arrived at the park in December 2020! Mark, Beans, Mabel and Oyster are the original crew. Since their arrival, Mabel and Beans have hatched 2 chicks!! How exciting for thier species! The African Penguin species are disappearing at a rapid pace, so we have partnered with the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary to help slow the pace and bring the decline to a stop. |
Black Footed Penguin Natural History
Lifespan: Average is 10-15 in their natural habitat. up to 20 or more years in professional care.
Diet: African penguins feed on pelagic schooling fish, particularly sardine and anchovy.
Habitat: African penguins can be found in large colonies along the southwestern rocky coast of Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, and many of the surrounding islands. The largest colony is located on Dyer Island.
Behavior: African penguins communicate with one another through vocalizations and body language. Each individual has its own unique vocalization that distinguishes it from the others. They use three different types of calls: a bray, used to attract a mate; the yell, used to defend their territory; and the haw, used by mates to locate each other when one is on land and one is at sea. When a penguin is feeling aggressive, it communicates through body language like gaping, pointing the bill, pecking, and bill-jabbing.
Breeding: They nest in shallow depressions either on open ground or under a bush or rock. Females usually lay two eggs which are incubated by both members of the pair for about 40 days. Hatchlings are covered in gray or gray-brown down and are brooded constantly for about fifteen days until they can regulate their temperatures. They are considered a fledgling for 60-130 days.
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Reasons for decline: Egg collectors prior to the 1960s, guano collectors-removing protectove nesting material, oil spills, over-fishing by humans and natural predators.
Fun Facts:
Diet: African penguins feed on pelagic schooling fish, particularly sardine and anchovy.
Habitat: African penguins can be found in large colonies along the southwestern rocky coast of Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, and many of the surrounding islands. The largest colony is located on Dyer Island.
Behavior: African penguins communicate with one another through vocalizations and body language. Each individual has its own unique vocalization that distinguishes it from the others. They use three different types of calls: a bray, used to attract a mate; the yell, used to defend their territory; and the haw, used by mates to locate each other when one is on land and one is at sea. When a penguin is feeling aggressive, it communicates through body language like gaping, pointing the bill, pecking, and bill-jabbing.
Breeding: They nest in shallow depressions either on open ground or under a bush or rock. Females usually lay two eggs which are incubated by both members of the pair for about 40 days. Hatchlings are covered in gray or gray-brown down and are brooded constantly for about fifteen days until they can regulate their temperatures. They are considered a fledgling for 60-130 days.
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Reasons for decline: Egg collectors prior to the 1960s, guano collectors-removing protectove nesting material, oil spills, over-fishing by humans and natural predators.
Fun Facts:
- There are 18 species of penguin in the world and only 1 in Africa.
- These hardy little penguins can hold their breath over 2 minutes and dive over 400 feet deep.
- A penguin may eat up to 1 pound of food or 14 percent of its body weight per day.
- One of its most distinctive features is a patch of bare skin above each eye, which helps them cope with high temperatures in South Africa. The hotter the penguin gets, the more blood flows to these areas, where it is cooled by the surrounding air, and keeps the bird cooler. Because of the increased blood flow, these bare patches get pinker as a penguin warms up.
- Once a year they have to moult. Basically, they replace their old, worn-out feathers. This is their license to get fat. They need to gain up to 31% of their normalbody weight. These fat reserves are needed because as new feathers slowly push out the old feathers, they are not waterproof, therefore they do not feed for about 18 days. They have to stay on land without food until the shiny new tuxedo has grown out. By the end of that time period, they are back to their normal sleeky self.
- Other names are African penguin due to location or Jackass penguin due to the sound of the vocalizations, although they prefer African penguin or Black-footed penguin nowadays.
Meet the Penguins!
MabelShe is a sweetheart of a penguin. She loves her keepers and likes to be right next to them when anything is going on. |
BeansHe may seem shy at first but he has a big personality. He is most likely to shove the others out of the way for fish and always wants to know whats going on. |
MarkHe is the most independent of the penguins and has a mind of his own. Mark is the first one to run up and he loves chasing toys and splashing around. Mark is also the loudest of our penguins and once he starts calling the others will join him. |
OysterShe is the youngest of our penguins. Oyster's favorite things to do are play with toys and going for a swim. She tends to follow behind the others but when she wants attention she will make sure she gets it! |
Introducing our newest members of the penguin clan, the offspring of Mabel & Beans! Mabel & Beans sat diligently, caring for thier egg. Once hatched, they shared parenting responsibilities to fed and nourish their young.
BlissHatched October 5, 2021
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GwenHatched September 13, 2022
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Click here for Penguin Experiences
Partnership in Action
Our Founders Tom and Hope Bennett visited South Africa in February of 2022.
"Getting to see the impact of what we do here unfold in other areas of the World reinforces the work we do. " -Hope
Tom and Hope share some of the highlights of being on the ground in South Africa assisting in the conservation of threatened and endangered wildlife. "Caring for and connecting people with these animals, like the Dyer Island Trust Penguin Sanctuary are doing, is vital to the species conservation."
North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park is partnered in conservation through our penguin breeding program, education, and direct support to Dyer Isalnd African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
Your support helps not only our efforts here, but around the globe as well!
"Getting to see the impact of what we do here unfold in other areas of the World reinforces the work we do. " -Hope
Tom and Hope share some of the highlights of being on the ground in South Africa assisting in the conservation of threatened and endangered wildlife. "Caring for and connecting people with these animals, like the Dyer Island Trust Penguin Sanctuary are doing, is vital to the species conservation."
North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park is partnered in conservation through our penguin breeding program, education, and direct support to Dyer Isalnd African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
Your support helps not only our efforts here, but around the globe as well!
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Sponsorship Opportunities
Have you heard? One penguin eats 5 - 15 fish per day. And a growing chick eats its full body weight in fish daily as it grows! Wow! That’s a lot of fish! They need your help to fund all that fish!
The money received through sponsorships will be used for the feeding and care of the birds, raising chicks and ongoing penguin conservation efforts carried out by the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary & here at the park.
The money received through sponsorships will be used for the feeding and care of the birds, raising chicks and ongoing penguin conservation efforts carried out by the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary & here at the park.
Silver Sponsorship$250
Includes:
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Gold Sponsorship$500 for up to 2 ppl
Additional person is $200 Includes:
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Diamond Sponsorship$1,000 for up to 2 ppl
Additional person is $400 Includes:
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Minimum age of 8. Ages 8-11, an adult is required to pay & participate for the safety of the child(ren) and animals. Ages 12 and older do not require an adult to participate, but recommended to share the experience!
Before you purchasing your sponsorship be sure to read "What to know before your experience" by clicking here.
Before you purchasing your sponsorship be sure to read "What to know before your experience" by clicking here.
For Custom Business Sponsorships contact us at [email protected]
North Georgia Wildlife Park/Wildlife Wonders is not a 501c3 tax exempt organization and contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions.
