Why is the Humboldt penguin named after Alexander von Humboldt?

It lives along the cold Humboldt Current that flows up the Pacific coast of South America, which was named after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

What does the Humboldt penguin eat?

It preys mainly on schooling fish such as anchovies, herring, and garfish, along with squid.

Is the Humboldt penguin endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, threatened mainly by overfishing of its prey, El Niño events, and human disturbance near breeding colonies.

Humboldt Penguinフンボルトペンギン

Spheniscus humboldtiVU— Vulnerable

The Humboldt penguin is a medium-sized penguin native to the Pacific coasts of Peru and Chile, where it breeds along the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current. It feeds mainly on schooling fish such as anchovies and garfish, nesting in burrows or rocky crevices near the shore. Classified as Vulnerable due to overfishing, El Niño events, and habitat disturbance, it is nonetheless one of the most commonly kept penguins in zoos and aquariums worldwide.

Humboldt Penguin (reference photo) — Photo: Christian Ursilva from København, Danmark / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Sphenisciformes / Spheniscidae Source
Size: Total length 64–69 cm
Weight: 2.9–6 kg (the heaviest of the banded penguins in the genus Spheniscus)
Lifespan: Wild: average about 25 years / captive: one individual reached 35 years
Diet: Piscivore Fish such as sauries, anchovies, and sardines, as well as squid
Distribution: Restricted to the Pacific coast of South America from Peru to Chile, following the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current; about 80% of the world population lives within protected areas of northern Chile. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Named after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt, its toddler-like waddle led Peruvians to nickname it "pájaro niño" (baby bird). Source
In Japan, the species breeds so readily in captivity that overpopulation has become a concern, and some facilities now limit breeding, even though the species is listed as threatened in the wild. Source
In 2014, a same-sex male pair at a UK wildlife park successfully hatched and raised an abandoned egg, drawing international media attention. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 39

Humboldt Penguinフンボルトペンギン

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Nagasakipengin SuizokukanNagasakiOpened in 2001

OJI ZOOHyogo3 minutes on foot west from Oji-Koen Station on the Hankyu line.

Awashima Marine ParkShizuokaOpened in 1963

NOTOJIMA AQUARIUMIshikawaThe nearest station is Wakura-Onsen Station.

Echizen Matsushima AquariumFukuiOpened in 1959

Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama DoubutsuenKanagawaOpened in 1999

Yokohama Shiritsu Nogeyama DoubutsuenKanagawaOpened in 1951

Shimoda AquariumShizuokaOpened in 1967

Kamogawa Sea WorldChibaAbout 2 hours from Tokyo Station on the Wakashio limited express to JR Awa-Kamogawa Station, then about 10 minutes by free shuttle bus (departing from the West Exit bus stop).

Miyajima Public AquariumHiroshimaOpened in 2011

Kyoto City ZooKyotoOpened in 1903

Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

Katsurahama AquariumKochiOpened in 1931

SHIZEN ZOOTokyoAbout a 15-minute walk from the north exit of Nishi-Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, or about a 20-minute walk from the south exit of Funabori Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line.

Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980

Sapporoshimaruyama DoubutsuenHokkaidoOpened in 1951

Shiritsu Shimonoseki Suizokukan KaikyoukanYamaguchiOpened in 2001

Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaAbout a 20-minute walk from Goino Station on the JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, or take a bus bound for Taniyama / Dobutsuen from Fukuhira Nokyo-mae to the last stop.

Shuunanshitokuyama DoubutsuenYamaguchiOpened in 1960

KOMORO ZOONaganoAddress: 311 Cho, Komoro, Nagano Prefecture (inside Kaikoen).

Otaru AquariumHokkaidoOpened in 1958

Kinosaki Marine WorldHyogoAbout 10 minutes by Zentan Bus from JR Kinosaki-Onsen Station; get off at the Hiyoriyama (Marine World) bus stop.

ENOSHIMA AQUARIUMKanagawaOpened in 2004

Suzaka ZooNaganoFrom the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, take Route 403, turn right at the Kotaka-machi intersection, turn left at the Kami-Hatcho intersection, cross Garyu Bridge, and turn left for the south entrance.

SENDAI UMINO-MORI AQUARIUMMiyagiOpened in 2015

Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

WAKKANAI NOSHAPPU AQUARIUMHokkaidoOpened in 1968

Nagasaki Bio ParkNagasakiOpened in 1980

Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955

Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

Shimane Aquarium AQUASShimaneAbout 12 minutes on foot from JR Hashi Station (2 hours 23 minutes from JR Matsue Station to JR Hashi Station; 1 hour 24 minutes from JR Masuda Station).

TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

Iida Shiritsu DoubutsuenNaganoAddress: 33 Ogimachi, Iida, Nagano.

Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

Toyamashifamiri ParkToyamaOpened in 1984

Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

Tateshina Amusement AquariumNaganoOpened in 1993

Former facilities

Inubousakimarin ParkChiba

Shima MarinelandMieOpened in 1970

Temporarily closed facilities

Shinyashima SuizokukanKagawaOpened in 1969

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