The famous African penguin named Mr. Greedy has passed away. He lived at the Maryland Zoo and was known for being a super, having over little penguins in his lifetime. Sadly, he died due to health issues from old age, the zoo shared.
Mr. Greedy was 33 years old. He was the most giant penguin in his group and North America.
When he wasn’t busy being a dad or making visitors smile, Mr. Greedy loved to swim and look after his mate. He also had a fun habit of stealing things.
On Saturday, Jen Kottyan, the zoo’s bird curator, said he got his funny nickname because he used to steal food and materials from other penguins.
Mr. Greedy was hatched in 1991, and only a few knew him by his official name: African penguin No. 821. The zoo said he passed away on August 27 because of euthanasia.
According to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Mr. Greedy helped African penguins during his long life.
“Mike Evitts, the zoo spokesperson, said they are unsure of the exact number of babies an African penguin might have, but Mr. Greedy’s number is way more than usual. This bird was significant to me. Work being done by this organization is crucial for the preservation of African penguins globally,” Ms. Kottyan emphasized.
These unique penguins can dive over 400 feet and hold their breath underwater for two to three minutes! African penguins are about two feet tall and are sometimes called Jackass Penguins because their noisy squawks sound like donkeys.
The number of these flightless birds worldwide has dropped by 75% in the past twenty years, primarily due to a lack of food such as sardines and anchovies. Scientists working with zoos and aquariums are responsible for survival plans for these species.
According to the zoo, there’s a real worry that, without changes, these lovely birds could become extinct within ten years.
If experts find solutions to help with climate change and fishing problems, Mr. Greedy’s descendants could play a crucial role in increasing their numbers in Africa in the future.
Mr. Greedy leaves behind his lifelong mate, Ms. Greedy—she’s now the oldest at the zoo, too! Both were born in ’91 & came to live at this zoo in 92—they’ve been together since ’94!
Usually, African penguins live about 18 years, so Mr. and Ms. Greedy were unique! The visitors were delighted by the stories narrated during feeding time. They learned about the animals’ long lifespans and shared experiences, such as stealing snacks.
When word got out about Mr. Greedy’s passing, many folks worried about Ms. Greedy’s happiness, said Ms. Kottayam. They plan on keeping an eye on her and may find her another mate if she wants one.
Of course, some people think keeping animals in zoos isn’t right—but as Ms. Kottyan pointed out, Mr. Greedy showed us just how essential zoos can be. He taught everyone about his kind and will forever impact their future through his chicks.
