Zilla
Species: African Penguin
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Sex: Male
Age: 7 years
Location: Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, New Jersey
Source: Turtle Back Zoo
My Story
They call me Zilla (formerly Godzilla), and trust me, I live up to the name. I’m large and in charge as the self-appointed bouncer of my colony. I must know what’s happening at all times, whether it’s with my fellow birds or the humans around me.
At a solid 5.52 kg (12.17 lbs.), and a hefty 6.3 kg (13.89 lbs.) during molting season , I stand out, especially when I’m barreling through my colony at feeding time. My keepers even have a name for it: Zilla zoomies! I’ve got a distinct, bounding waddle, and when I move, everyone moves out of the way.
I treat proper nesting as a very important task. In fact, I just held a contest to see how many rocks I collected this season. The answer was 634, if you were wondering. I don’t just build the biggest nest— I hoard the best rocks and nesting materials, even if I have to steal them. There’s no shame here, it’s all part of my strategy!
Even though I’m a gigantic bird, I’m not a fighter. I just love life, love toys, and love fun. When I’m feeling romantic, I preen my keepers, and, well, sometimes leave them with a few marks to remember me by.
Source: Turtle Back Zoo
Source: Turtle Back Zoo
Find Out More
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