Protecting Humboldt Penguins in Peru

Brookfield Zoo Chicago partners with the Punta San Juan Program to protect Humboldt penguins and other marine wildlife along the coast of Peru. Launched in 2007, this field research program began by assessing the health of wild Humboldt penguins and has since expanded to study and safeguard an entire marine ecosystem.

Today, the program protects not only Humboldt penguins, but also cormorants, pelicans, South American fur seals, and sea lions living within the Humboldt Current system.

Each year, Brookfield Zoo Chicago sends members of its veterinary team to Punta San Juan to conduct hands-on health assessments and collect vital data on Humboldt penguins and other marine species. This research helps scientists better understand population health, disease risks, and environmental changes affecting wildlife in the region.

The Punta San Juan Program works to improve scientific understanding of Peru’s marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly those influenced by the Humboldt Current. By monitoring wildlife and environmental conditions in real time, researchers can:

• Track ecosystem changes

• Identify emerging threats to wildlife

• Develop tools for sustainable marine management

• Support long-term conservation of biodiversity in Peru and beyond

This research allows conservationists to make informed recommendations and management decisions that protect both marine habitats and the species that depend on them.

To check the health of Humboldt penguins in Punta San Juan, the team takes blood samples to check for evidence of inflammation, or of kidney and liver issues. They also take throat swabs of the penguins to monitor for influenza or other viruses.

It’s important to perform the assessments because of the effects of El Nino and avian influenza, as these can greatly harm the wild penguin population.

When you support penguins at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, you help contribute to our conservation and research efforts in Punta San Juan. You can help make a difference by:

• Participating in a Wild Connections Penguin Encounter

• Joining a Penguin Feeding Adventure

• Adopting a penguin through the Animal Adoption Program

Your involvement helps fund field research, veterinary care, and long-term conservation efforts that protect penguins in the wild.