Rockhopper Penguin

The Calgary Zoo has four species of Penguin in their newly opened Penguin Plunge exhibit - Gentoo, King, Humboldt and Rockhopper. They are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums penguin species survival plan.

The 46 penguins came from zoos in Quebec, Texas, New York and Washington states and Scotland. There are 8 King Penguins, 23 Gentoo Penguins, 10 Humboldt Penguins and 5 Rockhopper Penguins. The IUCN Red List states:

King Penguins - Least Concern
Humboldt Penguins - Vulnerable
Gentoo Penguins - Near Threatened
Rockhopper Penguins - Vulnerable

Current impacts on Rockhoppers are climate variation, competition with fisheries, pollution, habitat degradation.

During the winter, Rockhoppers feed for three to five months without returning to land. They make a special cry when they return to the colony, court a mate or declare their territory. Scientists call
it “ecstatic vocalization.”