Humboldt Penguin

Learn about our colony
Humboldt penguins are superb swimmers - they have powerful flippers, waterproof oily feathers, large webbed feet and a streamlined body so they can move a lot more elegantly through the water than the way they waddle on land.
At chessington, they are fed a variety of fish, primarily Sprat and Smelt. You can watch our Zoo Keepers feeding our colony of penguins on a daily basis (check our feeding and talk times).
FUN FACT: This species of Penguin was named after after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt who discovered the cold water current that these penguins are most often found swimming in, in South America. Â

Where are they from?
Humboldt Penguins are originally from Northern Chile, in South America

How long do they live?
They can live up to 30 years in captivity and 15 - 20 in the wild

How big are we?
They weigh around 4.5kg and are about 60cm tall

Conservation Status
Vunerable