Adelaide Zoo is celebrating the birthday of Gordon, the Little Penguin who at 21 years of age is the oldest Little Penguin in captivity in Australia!
While most 21-year-olds will hit the bars and clubs, Gordon was more interested in spending quality time with long-term partner Cascade and snuggling up in their nest. The birthday boy did, however, pop out to inspect, trample on and taste his birthday cake, lovingly made for him by keepers Caitlin and Erin. The pilchard birthday cake was presented on a bed of fish blood and surrounded by Lily Pilly leaves, which make good nesting material.
Talking of Gordon’s great history at Adelaide Zoo, keeper Meg Williams said: “Gordon has lived at Adelaide Zoo for 20 of his years and during that time he has fathered at least four daughters who have gone on to breed. He has played an important role in the conservation of his species. Gordon’s also pretty smart, in his more advanced years he has worked out his own route to the keeper which means he avoids having to swim in cold water. Instead, he waddles his way around the edge of the pool and uses rocks, which we’ve put out to help him navigate.”
Adelaide Zoo houses 29 Little Penguins, ranging from 21-year-old Gordon to just a few months old. With breeding season underway it’s hoped there’ll be more little Little Penguins soon waddling around the exhibits and looking to Gordon for his wise counsel.
Numbers of Little Penguin in the wild are rapidly declining with predation by cats and other introduced species, domestic dogs, roadkill, watercraft, oil spills, fishing, and coastal development are major threats. Rapidly warming sea temperatures are also creating a challenge with associated poorer breeding and less opportunity to catch prey.
Adelaide Zoo’s two colonies will provide strong genetics to ensure a viable insurance population is available should it ever be needed.
Visitors are encouraged to come to Adelaide Zoo to see Gordon and wish him all the best.
Adelaide Zoo is open 365 days a year.
