Seven new penguins have arrived at Columbian Park Zoo
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Columbian Park Zoo recently announced that it has welcomed seven new African penguins to its collection and is preparing to exhibit all 10 penguins for the 2023 season.
The new penguins, on load from Metro Richmond Zoo in Mosley, VA, include four males and three females. Their names are Rainbow, Zurg, Gengar, Forky, Kiwi, Plum, and Ledger. These seven join the three current penguins, Shazam, Sagely and Donner.
"We are happy to report that all 10 African penguins are getting along and acclimating well to one another,” said Zoo Director Neil Dale in a release. “Our animal care team has gone above and beyond to acclimate the new penguins and integrate them with our three original birds.”
Columbian Park Zoo's African penguins have been on hiatus for a year, but expect them to be on exhibit for this year's season.
“The Columbian Park Zoo team has worked so hard to research best practices within the zoo community and develop a more extensive mosquito-abatement plan,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski in the release. “It’s important to us that the public is able to enjoy this beautiful exhibit and these remarkable birds, so we have made it a priority to find the safest ways to make that happen.”
In late November 2021, six of the original nine penguins were reported to have died of avian malaria.
"Avian malaria is one of the most significant causes of mortality in penguins, with rates as high as 50-90 percent,” Dale said in 2021. “Despite the best efforts of our veterinarian and staff, who provided around the clock care administering anti-malarial medications and other intensive care measures, we were unable to stop the progression of the infections.”
Numerous additional protective measures will be put in place in the penguins' exhibit this spring to avoid any further illness and death.
“Our penguins will continue taking prophylactic anti-malarial medications as prescribed by our veterinarian,” said Dale in the release. “After consulting with our vet, Purdue University Entomology, and the zoo community, we’ve implemented several additional strategies as a part of our mosquito-abatement program. This includes installing more powerful fans to increase air flow, adding mosquito repelling plants and mulch to the landscaping surrounding the exhibit, and placing mosquito traps around the exhibit exterior.”
According to the release, the zoo also plans to install a "purple martin bird house" as well as a bat house in hopes of attracting natural mosquito predators to the area.
“We are very grateful to our consulting partners, who have provided us with a lot of helpful information and expertise,” said Dale in the release, who also noted that penguin display times may vary depending on weather conditions, in order to avoid conditions that are favorable to mosquitoes.
For more information about the Columbian Park Zoo, please call 765-807-1540 or visit columbianparkzoo.org. Stay up to date on Zoo happenings at www.facebook.com/cpzoo and www.twitter.com/ColumbianPrkZoo
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: New penguins arrive at Columbian Park Zoo
