World’s oldest little penguin, Lazzie, turns 25 at Cincinnati Zoo

World’s Oldest Little Penguin Turns 25 at Cincinnati Zoo (Image: cincinnatizoo/X)

Lazzie the little penguin marked a bright milestone. Her quiet birthday joy filled the Cincinnati Zoo this week. Staff celebrated her 25 years with gentle pride. Visitors now ask how one tiny bird lived long.

Experts say little penguins rarely reach such ages. These birds usually survive fewer than 20 years. Many wild birds barely live for 10 years. Lazzie has exceeded that span with steady care. She belongs to the species Eudyptula minor today. They remain the smallest penguin species on Earth. Adults stand around 30 centimetres tall normally. They weigh just over one kilogram each day. Their deep indigo feathers inspired the name fairy penguins.

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Lazzie hatched at Cincinnati Zoo in 2000. She became the first little penguin born there. The zoo now holds North America’s largest colony. The birds live together in an area called Roo Valley. Most penguins there range between 0 and 20 years. Staff say Lazzie still moves well among them daily. Team Bird credits careful support for her longevity. Their updates on social media praised her strong spirit.

Scientists believe similar species lived long ago. Fossil skulls found in New Zealand revealed Wilson’s little penguin. The find was reported in 2023 based on studies. Researchers think these extinct birds matched current sizes. They might also be ancestors of today’s little penguins. This suggests they remained near their homelands. Today the species lives only in Australia and New Zealand.