African penguin at US zoo married for 30 years dies, leaving 230 descendants

Average Lifespan of Same-Species Penguins is 18 Years... 33-Year-Old Longevity
Penguin Wife of the Same Age Still Alive

Mr. Greedy, an African penguin at the Maryland Zoo in the United States who lived well beyond the average lifespan and left behind 230 descendants over more than 30 years, has passed away at the age of 33.

On the 7th (local time), American daily newspapers The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The New York Times (NYT) reported that Mr. Greedy, the longest-living African penguin at the Maryland Zoo, was recently euthanized while receiving treatment for old age. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore stated in a statement posted on its website on the 5th that the African penguin '821,' known as Mr. Greedy, was humanely euthanized on the 27th of last month due to health problems related to old age.

'Greedy' (the African penguin with a purple tag), the longest-living African penguin at the Maryland Zoo, was euthanized on the 27th of last month (local time) due to health issues related to old age. [Image source=Maryland Zoo website, Yonhap News]

Mr. Greedy lived to 33 years old, more than 15 years beyond the average lifespan of 18 years for African penguins. He fathered 230 descendants over five generations with a female African penguin '832,' known as Mrs. Greedy. The Maryland Zoo said, "Mr. Greedy made an enormous contribution to this endangered species by leaving an incredible number of 230 descendants through the African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums during his long life." African penguins, native to the southwestern coast of Africa including South Africa and Namibia, have seen their population decline by 75% over the past 20 years due to overfishing and marine pollution.

Mr. Greedy and Mrs. Greedy hatched in 1991 as same-age penguins and arrived at the Maryland Zoo in 1992, a year after hatching. They paired up in 1994 when they reached reproductive age. Usually, zoos intentionally change mating partners periodically to diversify genetic combinations, but the Greedy couple never separated due to their high breeding success rate.

The reason they were named 'Greedy' is because as juveniles, this couple aggressively took nesting materials and fish from other penguins. However, the 'greedy' Greedy couple is recognized for their significant contribution to the survival of African penguins not only in the United States but worldwide.

African penguins at the Maryland Zoo. The penguin on the left with many spots on its chest is "Mr. Greedy."
[Image source=Maryland Zoo website, Yonhap News]

The descendants of the Greedy couple are scattered across zoos throughout the United States. The oldest descendant is 28 years old and resides in another zoo, while several fifth-generation descendants, including one named Olive, remain at the Maryland Zoo where the Greedy couple lived. The Maryland Zoo explained that while the total number of descendants expected from a single African penguin is uncertain, the number of descendants left by Mr. Greedy is far above average.

Mrs. Greedy, having lost her mate, has now become the longest-living African penguin at the Maryland Zoo. The zoo plans to observe Mrs. Greedy's behavior to decide whether to find her a new partner.