Two new African penguins join Seneca Park Zoo colony
Rochester, N.Y. — Seneca Park Zoo has welcomed two new African penguins to its colony.
Bay and Coriander, both females born in 2019 at the Maryland Zoo, arrived in Rochester in mid-August and spent two weeks in quarantine before being introduced to male penguins Tonka and Kaden.
All four were moved into the zoo's penguin habitat Thursday, bringing the colony's total to 28.
"Our colony had more males than females, which can contribute to increased competition and aggression among the males," Zoo Director Bob Lee said in a statement. "Bay and Coriander's arrival helps bring the group into better balance, supporting healthier social dynamics while giving our guests even more penguins to connect with and enjoy."
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Visitors can identify Bay by the black and yellow band on her right wing, while Coriander wears a brown band. Both penguins are now on exhibit for visitors to see.
"Coriander is always on the move and gets into everyone else's business," zookeeper Brenna De Angelis said in a statement. "Bay is very bold and will steal fish from other penguins, especially her mate Tonka."
African penguins are classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining in the wild, according to the zoo.
The zoo also announced a $5,000 grant this week to support conservation efforts aimed at helping African penguin chicks survive and eventually return to the wild.
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