Tulsa Zoo Celebrates World Penguin Day With Introduction Of New Penguin

The Tulsa Zoo is part of the conservation efforts for the endangered African penguin.

On World Penguin Day, which is April 25, News On 6 visited the zoo to learn more about its genetics research and responsible breeding of the birds.

The Tulsa Zoo has two dozen African penguins, ranging from a few months old to 30 years old.

Staff said the penguins at the zoo live two to three times longer than they would in the wild.

Jacob Garnica and his six-year-old son, Judah, from Glenpool made memories at the Tulsa Zoo on World Penguin Day.

"He was asking about the small penguin, and it was very photogenic,” said Garnica. “It was taking pictures with them, and it was actually touching the glass while they were looking at the glass."

The zoo's newest penguin, Mickey, is named after Oklahoma's own baseball legend, Mickey Mantle.

The four-month-old girl made her TV debut with News On 6.

Zookeeper Taylor Harris said the zoo's 24 penguins have different "penguin-alities."

"So it's our job as keepers to learn each one of them individually,” said Harris. “That's why they all have names, they all have band colors."

While Mickey and her older sister, River, adjust to their colony, the zoo said it works to make sure there are future chicks.

"One is that we are a part of the Species Survival Plan or SSP Program, which means that we're looking at the genetics of every penguin in zoological facilities and we're making sure we're responsible with any breeding that we're doing,” explained Harris.

Zookeepers said we all can protect the penguins.

"Anchovies and sardines are the number one fishery down in South Africa that these guys rely on, and those are very low in numbers right now,” said Harris. “If we don't see a change in that, we could see them go extinct in South Africa within our lifetime, so it's super important to eat sustainable seafood."

Harris said we should also reduce, reuse and recycle.

"All of our waterways in Oklahoma do feed into the oceans and currents take things all over the world, and it will get down to South Africa, where these guys might accidentally ingest it,” said Harris.

The zoo's nesting season starts in September, which means by winter, there could be more chicks hatching.