Mr. Greedy, oldest African penguin at Maryland Zoo, has died at 33

Subtitle-The penguin is survived by his lifelong mate, Mrs. Greedy. The couple produced 230 descendants — a significant contribution to conservation efforts.

source-https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/09/06/mr-greedy-african-penguin-maryland/


snip-:
After a celebrated, decades-long career as one of North America’s most reproductively successful members of an endangered species, African penguin No. 821 — known fondly as Mr. Greedy — has passed away, the Maryland Zoo said this week.

Mr. Greedy, 33, was the backbone of the zoo’s Penguin Coast, an attraction that features the largest colony of endangered African penguins in North America. The cause of death was euthanasia due to age-related decline, according to Jen Kottyan, the Maryland Zoo’s bird curator.

Mr. Greedy arrived at the zoo in 1992. His life stretched well beyond an African penguin’s median life expectancy of 18 years. At the time of his death, he was the oldest penguin at the Maryland Zoo. He leaves behind a genetic footprint that is significant to the long-term survival of his species."


snip-"The couple both came to the Maryland Zoo in 1992 after hatching the year before. Two years later, they were paired as they reached reproductive age. Although zookeepers typically swap penguin partners over time to diversify the genetic pool, Mr. and Mrs. Greedy were never separated because of their success as mates.


Photos in the article.
Condolences to Mrs Greedy and his human attendants