It's National Penguin Day! Sending some love to Lafayette's own set

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read
In this file photo, seven penguins explore their enclosure at the Columbian Park Zoo, Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Lafayette. In late 2021, six of the nine penguins living at the zoo died of avian malaria. The three remaining penguins have made a full recovery.
In this file photo, seven penguins explore their enclosure at the Columbian Park Zoo, Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Lafayette. In late 2021, six of the nine penguins living at the zoo died of avian malaria. The three remaining penguins have made a full recovery.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — If you have a tuxedo, today would be a great day to dust it off and celebrate our naturally dressed black-tie friends at the Columbian Park Zoo.

Today, Jan. 20, marks National Penguins Day. And what better day to remind ourselves what a treat it is to have our own set of African penguins here in Lafayette, housed at the zoo since last summer.

And what better day to remain grateful that zookeepers saved three ailing penguins after six of their zoo mates died from avian malaria in late fall 2021.

Beginning on Oct. 24, the Journal & Courier reported at the time, the African penguin named Flash began showing signs of illness, prompting veterinary tests and examinations. Flash's condition rapidly deteriorated and was found dead by animal care staff four days later.

Following the necropsy – animal autopsy – a blood test returned with a positive result for plasmodium, which causes avian malaria.

Seven penguins walk into their exhibit for the first time at the Columbian Park Zoo, Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Lafayette. The seven penguins arrived Wednesday evening and are now on display in the zoo. In late 2021, six of the eventual nine penguins living at the zoo died of avian malaria. The three remaining penguins have made a full recovery.
Seven penguins walk into their exhibit for the first time at the Columbian Park Zoo, Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Lafayette. The seven penguins arrived Wednesday evening and are now on display in the zoo. In late 2021, six of the eventual nine penguins living at the zoo died of avian malaria. The three remaining penguins have made a full recovery.

By the next month, six had succumbed to avian malaria, and three were in serious condition. Those three, the zoo later reported, turned a corner and are seeing happier, healthier days.

"We are happy to say that our three remaining penguins, Shazam, Sagely, and Donner are all stable at this time,” Caitlin Laffery, assistant zoo director, said in a December 2021 release. “We’ve seen an increase in appetite, improved energy levels, and blood values starting to return to more normal values. We are cautiously optimistic that their condition will continue to improve and we are hoping for the best.”

On Wednesday, the city of Lafayette recognized the efforts of the zookeepers in saving the remaining penguins.

"For their dedication and professionalism while faced with the devastating illness of our penguin colony," the tweet read, "Parks Director Claudine Laufman nominated the Columbian Park Zoo staff for the December Star City Customer Service Award."

Fun facts about penguins:

  • According to Save the African Penguin, the global population of African penguins, the kind at the Columbian Park Zoo, was estimated in 2021 at 14,700 pairs in total.

  • Males are in charge of taking care of the egg, building the nest, protecting the egg from danger and sitting on the egg to keep it warm, A-Z Animals.com details.

  • Baby penguins, depending on the species can take anywhere from around 30 days to 66 days to hatch, according to A-Z Animals.com. Penguins lay their eggs in May or June.

Penguins make great movie characters, especially in these choices: "Happy Feet" (2006); "Madagascar" (2005); "The March of the Penguins" (2006); and, if you want to go a little darker, "Batman Returns" (1992).

Deanna Watson is the executive editor at the Journal & Courier. Contact her at dwatson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @deannawatson66.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: National Penguin Day: Celebrate the Lafayette Columbian Park Zoo set