The New England Aquarium in Boston has created a special island for its geriatric African penguins, offering them a peaceful and comfortable retirement. Six penguins have already moved to the island, which aims to address the increasing number of penguins living beyond their expected lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild.
The "retirement island" provides a quieter environment with less competition for food, allowing older penguins to eat at their own pace. These penguins receive specialized care, including monitoring for ailments like cataracts and arthritis, fish injected with extra water for kidney health, eye drops, physical therapy, and even acupuncture.
One penguin, Lambert, recovered well after eye surgery and enjoys chasing his partner around the island. Aquarium staff are working to modify the island to improve accessibility for penguins with mobility issues. The oldest penguin, Good Hope, and his mate are also scheduled to move to the island soon.
This initiative also highlights the conservation efforts for African penguins, a critically endangered species facing threats in the wild such as overfishing and climate change. The New England Aquarium actively participates in protecting and restoring wild African penguin populations.