An Aquarium of the Pacific penguin has died, officials announced on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Ludwig, a Magellanic penguin, was 12 years old at the time of his death. He arrived at the Long Beach aquarium in 2012 after being hatched in a different Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility, according to the Thursday announcement.
He died on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Magellanic penguins are native to the coasts of South America — including Chile, Argentina and Peru — and can live 10 to 20 years in the wild.
“Ludwig was a shy penguin,” said Brett Long, the aquarium’s senior director of mammals and birds, “but once he connected with staff, he was endearing.”
The cause of death was avian malaria, the announcement said, which is a severe disease in penguins that is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitos.
Avian malaria, unlike avian flu, cannot spread between birds or from birds to humans, the announcement said — but penguins are more vulnerable to the illness during their molt season.
Magellanic penguins lose all their feathers once a year during molt season, as part of their natural life cycle. It takes anywhere from two to five weeks for their new feathers to grow in, the announcement said.
“All the penguins at the Aquarium, including Ludwig, receive preventative malaria medicine year-round as a precaution,” the release said, “but breakthrough cases can happen, especially during the penguins’ annual molt season.”
Ludwig started to show a lack of interest in food and lethargy just two days before he died, according to the announcement. He received anti-malaria medication and supportive care after testing positive for avian malaria.
Source: Orange County Register
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