Air Date: Week of June 28, 2024

African penguins live on the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. (Photo: Megan Trace, Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0)

In this short segment we hear why African penguins are sometimes nicknamed “jackass” penguins. Also, four chicks that recently hatched at the New England Aquarium are giving some hope to this threatened species.

Transcript

DOERING: By the way, those African penguins or Jackass penguins as they are sometimes known really do make a racket!

[BRAYING SFX]

DOERING: Hence the nickname, since they sound almost like a braying donkey or “jackass.”

African penguins are also known as “Jackass” penguins, a reference to their loud, donkey-like “bray.” (Photo: David Ellis, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[BRAYING SFX]

DOERING: They’re from the coasts of South Africa and Namibia and like many birds are threatened by climate change and overfishing.

[PENGUIN CALL]

DOERING: So, breeding programs at zoos and aquariums are helping boost their numbers. In fact, four chicks hatched at the New England Aquarium this spring and have been cared for by staff behind the scenes. Two of them, named Bunker and Althea, recently joined the African penguin colony out on display.

[BRAYING SFX]

African penguin chicks gather in the wild. Breeding programs at zoos and aquariums are helping maintain the species’ endangered population. (Photo: steve micnicholas, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

DOERING: The other two hatched a little later but should be named and out on exhibit soon. These little fluffs really are adorable and you’ll just have to visit the Living on Earth website at loe.org to see photos.

Links

Listen to more Jackass Penguin calls!

Check out the New England Aquarium’s brand-new penguin chicks!