Humboldt penguin checks himself out at the Philadelphia Zoo.
In the wild, the Humboldt penguin is found on the west coast of South America along the coast of Chile and Peru in the region of the cold water Humboldt current.
Humboldt penguins nest on islands or on rocky stretches of mainland coast, especially in areas with cliffs. They average a ten year lifespan but Humboldts in zoos have been known to live up to twenty years. Humboldt penguins are intensely social and gregarious and are usually found in groups. They have superb swimming skills, which rivals seals and porpoises. In the wild, Humboldt penguins eat small schooling fish like anchovies and sardines. In the Zoo, they receive five types of fish. Their diet is based on the calories needed for different stages of life along with a variety of supplemental vitamins. They are fed three times a day at the Zoo. Trout and silversides seem to be their favorite fish, although their preferences do change at different times of the year.
From my Monday 1-18-2009 trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. For information on visiting the zoo, please visit their web site at www.philadelphiazoo.org
