Penguin Awareness Day is a brilliant chance to celebrate one of the most-loved species at Banham Zoo — our African penguins. While our colony is a firm fan favourite, they’re also an important reminder of the conservation work happening behind the scenes. African penguins are currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and there are a number of pressures affecting wild populations, including overfishing, pollution, climate change, oil spills and the loss of safe nesting sites. By caring for penguins here at the zoo, we can help raise awareness and support efforts working to protect their future.

Our colony is home to 29 African penguins, including our newest arrivals, chicks Pumpkin and Spice, born in November 2025. From their first curious waddles around Penguin Cove to their confident dives into the pool, the pair have quickly become firm favourites with our visitors — and they’ve added even more energy and personality to a colony that’s already packed with unforgettable individuals.

And characters they certainly are. There’s Bob, our instantly recognisable one-eyed penguin who never lets anything slow him down, often spotted keeping a close eye on his best mate Spud and Spud’s wife Gamora. Then there’s Ronica, the oldest member of the colony at an impressive 24 years old, who has seen generations of penguins come and go and still carries herself with calm confidence — especially when fish is on the menu (which, after all these years, is still her favourite!).

Here at Banham Zoo, our penguins are part of international breeding programmes designed to support the future of the species, and we’re proud to support SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Their teams work in South Africa to rescue and rehabilitate injured and oiled penguins, and to hand-rear abandoned chicks before releasing them back into the wild. When you visit Banham Zoo, you’re helping to support the care of our penguins and conservation projects here and overseas — so this Penguin Awareness Day, we’d love you to stop by Penguin Cove, listen to the calls, watch the splashy dives, and get to know the colony a little better. For more updates, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!