Differences in Habitat & Effects (continued..)
Penguins in Captivity (Tulsa Zoo) Habitat
Differences in Habitat & Effects
- Human Cause
- Global Warming
- Threatens wild environments, especially in cold climates (ice melts, less area, affects distance for traveling to breeding grounds)
- Body temperature too hot, deaths from temperature, can reduce amt. of food in waters
- Human Pollution
- pollution of water with chemicals, oil, debris takes away purity of natural habitat
- Tom Mortimor: Bird Zoological Supervisor
- African Penguins:
- temperate species -- South Africa & Namibia + islands
- don't need ice or snow, mildly warm
- cool water (55-60 degrees)
- shade
- different substrate (rock, sand) & nesting options
- **right diet, heat/air, enrichment, routine checkups (health), vitamins/anti-malarials, genetic matching (mate moving)
- Hardships of Wild
- In wild, cataracts, body condition, food shortage, oil spills (shipping lanes), predators, nesting can shorten life span
- They nest on beaches in cavities (beneath sand and guano). In 1930's, LOTS of guano was harvested along w/ oil spills & food shortages has made penguin #'s hard to recover.
- 1 Oil Spill could destroy an entire wild population b/c they live in the same area. Programs are needed to aid breeding & maintaining population
Wild Penguin Habitats
Wild Penguin Characteristics/Traits
- Depends on which penguin species
- Cold OR Hot
- Antarctica VS Near Equator (S. America, Africa, Australia & New Zealand)
- MUST be next to body of water
- Essentially, most natural environment for penguins
- very, very social
- Rookeries (thousands)=important-- feed, swim, nest in groups
- Communication (vocal/visual)
- individual distinct call, helps mating & locating chicks
- Calls out, waves flippers, bows, cleans feathers to look desirable
- Display Call: complex, reserved for btwn. partners
- Threat Call: for warnings
- Loud Call: specifically taking actions against predators--to young
- Preening
- common behavior
- Perfect feather condition: insulation & waterproofing
- Gland (in base of their tail) secretes a special oil. Uses bills & rubs flippers in water to distribute oil throughout feathers.
Penguins in Captivity Characteristics/Traits
- **same traits as wild penguins, but can depend on whether born in captivity OR taken from wild
- Tulsa Zoo Penguins (born into captivity)
- taken care of by both parents & "intervention only done when something is wrong"
- Differences (ex):
- Food is fed to them, there is no need for hunting
- No predators, no need for warnings/calls
- (+)
- If simulated correctly, life spans can increase (30's, even 45) b/c of extensive care in food, routine monitoring & medical care
- Much greater chance of offspring surviving. in wild, 2-3 eggs with 1 strongest surviving. In captivity, all could. No predators, best simulated environment/care.
- (-)
- If captive environment is not simulated healthily/correctly, penguins can suffer greatly. Stereotypic behavior (hair plucking, incessant habits). If taken straight from wild to captivity, can also be extreme on animals.
- Ex: Sea World controversies
Basic Info (continued...)
Basic Information of Penguins
- Scientific Name: Spheniscidae
- warm-blooded, aquatic birds, can't fly
- torpedo bodies, with blubber/down layer
- cute huddling
- large groups: rookeries
- 75% underwater
- salt water & special gland in bill
- seafood: fish, krill, squid, crustaceans, and other seafood
- Size: 16 in tall & 2.2 lbs - 3.7 ft tall & 60-90 lbs
- Lifespan: about 15-30 years (depends)
- VERY social--communication
Sources
Penguins: Captivity VS Wild
- Interview with Tom Mortimor, Bird Zoological Supervisor from Tulsa Zoo
- http://www.penguins-world.com/penguins-in-captivity/
- http://www.livescience.com/27434-penguin-facts.html
- http://www.penguins-world.com/penguin-habitat/
- http://www.bioexpedition.com/penguin-behavior/
- http://www.defenders.org/penguins/basic-facts
- https://awionline.org/content/wild-vs-captivity
- http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/animals-used-entertainment-factsheets/zoos-pitiful-prisons/
- http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-captivity-effects-the-mental-well-being-of-all-animals/
- http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatbirdblog/2013/07/08/penguin-facts-african-penguins-in-captivity-and-the-wild/#.WE4nJKIrLqR
By: Lydia Jeong