New England Aquarium builds geriatric island for aging penguins to live in safety, dignity

Описание: (3 Nov 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston – 29 October 2025
1. Wide of Mia Luzietti, New England Aquarium’s senior penguin trainer and enrichment coordinator, preparing to apply glaucoma eye drops on the remaining eye of Lambert, a 33-year-old African penguin living on the facility's geriatric island
UPSOUND (English) Mia Luzietti, New England Aquarium: "Right now I'm gonna be working with Lambert over here, a 33-year-old African penguin, and he's gonna be getting his first set of daily eye drops."
2. Luzietti grabs Lambert in preparation to applying eye drops on his sole remaining eye
3. Close up of Luzietti applying glaucoma eye drops on Lambert’s eye
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mia Luzietti, New England Aquarium:
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"So, some of the specialized treatments that we can provide these geriatric animals – and really any of our birds if they need it – are things like voluntary eye drops, foot treatments and applying ointment to their feet. Things like acupuncture and physical therapy, even, are things we've provided to our animals."
5. Some of the aging penguins navigating geriatric island
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mia Luzietti, New England Aquarium:
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"So, behind me we have our geriatric island, home to seven of our oldest individual penguins. We have around 50 penguins as part of our colony. Over half of them have exceeded that 10- to 15-year life expectancy. Some of our birds on this island are even approaching their 40s."
7. Lambert and his mate, Dyer III, reassert their bond and territory by braying and shaking their heads
8. Various of African penguins swimming
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mia Luzietti, New England Aquarium:
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"A lot of these animals are rescued, rehabilitated or here for genetic and conservation reasons. And so, this is a really important population of genetically valuable but non-releasable individuals. So, it's really important that we can help them succeed in day-to-day life."
10. Various of a penguin training to voluntarily enter and exit a transfer cage used to transport animals
11. Tilt up that begins with close up of Lambert’s feet and ends with a view of him and Dyer III braying
STORYLINE:
At 33 years old, Lambert the African penguin faces challenges familiar to many seniors.

His vision is failing. He's slowing down. And competing with younger, more aggressive peers for space has become dangerous.

Lambert, however, couldn't move to just any nursing home.

He's a critically endangered African penguin.

So, his caregivers at the New England Aquarium created something special – a geriatric island where he and six other aging penguins can live together safely.

The idea started as a joke among staff.

But when they noticed the physical limitations affecting their older birds, the concept became serious.

In February, the aquarium opened the specialized island near its entrance, set apart from the rest of the 38-bird colony.

The rocky island features flatter terrain than the main habitat.

A carpeted path leads down to the water, helping penguins with mobility issues navigate more easily.

The aquarium installed a stand that makes it easier for the birds to hop out of the water.

On a recent visit, Lambert stood at the island's peak with his mate, Dyer III.

The two preened one another, occasionally letting out loud calls that sounded like a donkey's bray.

When Luzietti coaxed him down, Lambert settled calmly in her lap for his daily dose of eye drops for glaucoma.


Some of the aquarium's African penguins are in their 30s, and one lived into its 40s.

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