Mr. Greedy, an African penguin, has passed away at the age of 33 at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. His remarkable longevity was attributed to his role as a father figure, having helped rebuild the penguin population across North America. Mr. Greedy leaves behind 230 descendants and five generations of offspring through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African Penguin Species Survival Plan.
Despite his reputation for being “greedy” due to stealing nesting materials and food from others, Mr. Greedy’s legacy is one of fertility and contribution to the continued existence of African penguins worldwide. His partner, Mrs. Greedy, remains at the zoo as its oldest penguin. The pair has been together since 1994.
In a statement, the zoo’s bird curator, Jen Kottyan, said: “It’s tough to lose an animal who has been such a welcome presence at our Zoo for three decades.” However, she and her colleagues are proud of Mr. Greedy’s accomplishments.
The zoo is now monitoring Mrs. Greedy’s behavior, with the possibility of pairing her with a single male companion if she shows interest. Among their offspring is Olive, a fifth-generation descendant who helps educate visitors about African penguins and the threats they face in the wild.
African penguins are an endangered species, with their wild population declining by 75% over the past 20 years due to factors such as scarce food supply, human disturbance of nesting grounds, pollution, and climate change. The Maryland Zoo is home to the continent’s largest African penguin colony.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/08/g-s1-21460/mr-greedy-penguin-maryland-zoo