SeaWorld San Diego recently celebrated the 40th birthday of Best Friend, a male macaroni penguin, making him one of the oldest penguins in captivity. The average lifespan of a macaroni penguin is 30 years in captivity and 15 years in the wild, so reaching 40 is a rare milestone. Best Friend’s longevity is attributed to the excellent care he receives from SeaWorld staff, as well as their commitment to conservation and educating the public about penguins. While Best Friend is currently the oldest penguin at SeaWorld San Diego, he is not the record holder – an emperor penguin at the park reached 49 years old a few years ago. Belnick, a zoological specialist, expressed her joy at being able to care for Best Friend and praised his dashing appearance at 40. The Penguin Encounter team at SeaWorld emphasized that fewer than 1% of penguins reach the age of 40, underscoring the significance of Best Friend’s milestone.
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