Kamal Ghorui
A Humboldt penguin called Spneb celebrated her 38th birthday this week at a wildlife sanctuary in Cornwall, and keepers believe she is now the oldest living penguin of her species anywhere in the world.The milestone was marked at Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary with a specially made ice cake filled with Cornish sardines and sprats, which happen to be among her favourite foods. Staff said she showed no sign of slowing down despite her remarkable age.Keeper Becky Waite described Spneb as still having a strong appetite and a clear interest in the daily activity around her. She peeks out of her nest box regularly and keeps a watchful eye on the younger birds in the colony. Waite called it a kind of feathery neighbourhood watch, which sums up the penguin’s personality rather well.The name Spneb itself has an unusual origin. It was put together from the names of the medications that treated her during a serious illness in 2007. She had been diagnosed with Aspergillosis, a fungal infection that can be fatal in birds. After four months of treatment she pulled through and has lived well ever since.According to global zoo records the sanctuary holds, no Humboldt penguin in captivity anywhere on the planet has reached this age. That makes Spneb not just a local curiosity but a genuine record holder in wildlife conservation circles.Humboldt penguins are native to the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. In the wild they rarely live beyond 15 to 20 years because of predators, food shortages and climate pressures. In captivity with consistent care and feeding they can live considerably longer, though reaching 38 is still extraordinary by any measure.The sanctuary said Spneb was thriving and that her birthday celebration drew plenty of attention from visitors who gathered to watch the colony enjoy their treats.She turns 39 next year and the keepers have every reason to believe she will get there.
