MOSELEY, Va. (Gray News) – The world’s oldest African penguin just turned one year older.
ET, a female African penguin at the Richmond Metro Zoo in Virginia, turned 43 on Saturday.
In a news release, the zoo said that, according to its best available data, ET is the world’s oldest living African penguin, and is also the oldest to have ever lived.
In the wild, their average lifespan is around 15 to 20 years, but they can live much longer in zoos, the zoo said.
ET arrived at the Metro Richmond Zoo in 1995. Considering his age, he is in good health, the zoo said. He has arthritis for which he receives medication. He also has vision problems, but “his quality of life is good,” and he still eats well and loves to swim.
Penguins are monogamous and will mate for life. ET has outlived two of her roommates at the zoo, and his current roommate is Einstein.
The zoo said ET and Einstein have their own private space so ET can “get through his senior year without any drama with the penguins.”
Happy birthday, ET!
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