Feeding penguins at the Saint Louis Zoo

Fish, fish, and - oh yeah, fish!
For National Zookeeper Appreciation Week, we’re diving into penguin care! What does it take to feed 71 penguins at Penguin and Puffin Coast? Every morning, keepers from the Orthwein Animal Nutrition Center deliver capelin, mackerel, smelt, trout, and herring for our avian care team to weigh, add a vitamin, and distribute to eager penguins.
A well-rounded diet for a penguin means having many fish options. Each type of fish has different nutrients penguins need for healthy, waterproof feathers. For king penguins, mackerel and herring are a favorite! Many will line up to receive a mackerel with a special vitamin made just for seabirds. In just one day, a king penguin can eat two pounds of fish. This number increases when hungry chicks demand the parents’ full attention.
Clean oceans are important for the health of penguins at Saint Louis Zoo, penguins in the wild, and humans. Choosing sustainable fish, whether farmed or wild-caught, means buying from fisheries that take extra care to have a minimal impact on the environment in which they fish. How do you know which fish to buy? Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch page or visit our website to learn more!
www.stlzoo.org...