Scoping Out Safety for Humboldt Penguin ‘Juanita’

Following a recent incident with our 13-year-old female Humboldt penguin ‘Juanita’, we’re taking the opportunity to remind our community of the role we all play in keeping our animals safe. 

Juanita’s dedicated care team had noticed she’d developed a slightly abnormal gait, so our Animal Health team scheduled her for an X-ray. During imaging, they spotted what appeared to be a metal foreign body — an incidental finding that prompted quick action. 

Because penguin stomachs are highly acidic to help them digest whole fish, ingesting anything metallic poses serious risk of leaching, leading to heavy metal toxicity, and even death. Our Animal Health team moved swiftly performing an endoscopy while Juanita was under anesthesia at our Animal Health Centre. A small camera was carefully guided into Juanita’s stomach, which was gently expanded with air and water. Using retrieval forceps the foreign body was removed through her esophagus, revealing that it was a coin. Thankfully, it was a newer coin which means it did not contain zinc or lead. 

Juanita recovered well from the procedure and was soon back waddling around Penguin Plunge. However, the radiographs did confirm degenerative joint disease in her right knee (which is unrelated to the incident), so she is receiving some extra TLC from her dedicated caregivers.  

This incident could have turned out very differently, and we’re grateful for the quick response from our ACHW team in caring for this beloved bird. 

We all have a part to play in helping to keep our animal residents safe. Wherever you are in the zoo, always remember to: 

• Keep small items like coins, hair ties, tickets, and wrappers secured 
• Avoid placing items on habitat ledges or railings  
• If you see something fall into a habitat, report it to a staff member or volunteer right away 

Thanks for helping us keep our animal friends safe!