Hello, I’m Cliff, the grumpy old man of our penguin colony. You’ll often find me sitting outside of my prime real estate, staring out at all the other penguins and keepers and judging them all. But don’t get me wrong, I’m always quite the gentleman to my keepers. As the oldest bird in our colony, I have quite the history, and over the years, I have won over many hearts, both human and penguin.

I spent over 20 years loyally paired up with my mate Mouse. You would never see us apart. When Mouse passed away in 2021, it became clear that our colony cared for me just as much as we did for her. I built strong bonds with another male in our colony, Hubert, and we were often seen defending each other and allopreening. Eventually, I even paired off with one of our younger birds, Marina.

I have been with our colony since the very start, and as the oldest African penguin, I am so lucky to have spent so much time with my keepers and the other penguins. I am thankful for how long I have been able to help educate our guests on endangered African penguins.

Despite my grumpy demeanor, I do have some favorite activities. I enjoy private swims, sunbathing on the deck, and being the first one to the feed. I always know what time it is!

Age: 35

Sex: Male

Species: African Penguin