Geriatric Penguins Settle Into New ‘Retirement Home’ at New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium in Boston expanded their penguin habitat after “more than half” of the colony met or surpassed the species’ typical life expectancy in the wild, the aquarium said on March 12. According to the New England Aquarium, African penguins typically live 10 to 15 years in the wild, but more than half of their penguin colony had met or surpassed this age. Footage shows the six older penguins residing in the new habitat: Harlequin and Durban, both 32 years old, “who have been a pair since 2000 and raised eight chicks together,” according to the aquarium; Boulders, 34, who is showing symptoms of arthritis; Isis, 29, who “has struggled socially with some of the younger birds in the colony as she ages”; and Lambert, 32, and his mate, 14-year-old Dyer. Staff at the aquarium started work on the new facility in 2024, working to “reimagine the penguin exhibit and create a designated space for birds experiencing medical conditions related to advanced age.” In this specialized colony, the animal care team at the aquarium will keep “careful records … on each penguin’s behavior, feedings, and more so that staff can quickly spot changes that might be indicative of ailments that afflict older penguins, such as foot injuries and cataracts.” Diana Major, Manager of Penguins at the New England Aquarium, said in a press release, “We think of this island like assisted living, where we’re helping the birds be more comfortable in a calmer environment.” Credit: New England Aquarium via Storyful