Gelsenkirchen.
World Penguin Day is celebrated on April 23 in the Zoom Erlebniswelt. Numerous actions and the tailcoat wearers are waiting for the visitors.
It’s a quiet morning in the Zoom world of experience. The African African penguins do their rounds in the pool and enjoy the warm rays of the sun. Suddenly all the little heads turn to the right together. “Ah, you saw Rebecca,” says Zoom spokeswoman Franziska Gerk. As soon as she says it, the lively animal keeper comes out from behind the hedge, holding a bright red bucket in her hand. It will certainly also be used on tomorrow’s “World Penguin Day”. In addition to the feedings, there is even more program around the waddling seabirds waiting for the visitors.
The almost 30 African penguins are not quite sure what exactly happens when Rebecca van Lokven enters the facility. Normal feeding time is not now. When the Dutchwoman takes a seat on the big stone, there is no stopping the little tailcoat wearers. Close together, they waddle excitedly around the animal keeper and push each other back and forth.
Penguins eat fish with the MSC seal
The first fish flies through the air in a high arc before landing in the water with a splash. Seconds later, three African penguins dive after them with a body – jumping from the edge of the pool is expressly permitted in the Zoom world of experience. Meanwhile, caution is advised on land: van Lokven has to watch her fingers while the African penguins snatch the fish out of her hand.
“Lobbe is her absolute favorite fish. We also feed them small herring and sprats,” explains the animal keeper, adding, “We only use fish that have the MSC seal.” This means that the fish come from controlled, sustainable and certified fisheries. “We are campaigning against overfishing of the seas because this also endangers penguins in the wild,” says Gerk.
Gerrit sorts out tough
Certified fish is all well and good, but only one thing counts for Gerrit: the look. “He’s very picky. If the fish’s head is crooked, he won’t take it anymore. I always have to bend them a bit for him, otherwise they sort them out in a tough way,” reveals Rebecca van Lokven about her protégé and laughs.
Just like Gerrit, not only does every penguin on the facility have its own name, but also a personality. “Dirkje is just lovely, you can do anything with her. Thomas is very curious and Klaus wanders up and down in front of the cave like a bodyguard when his partner has a chick.” At the moment Klaus can be quite relaxed – Pinschi and her husband Sören have offspring. The little penguin was born on March 22nd. However, it will be some time before visitors can see it. “And then the chick is already as big as its parents. They grow so fast,” knows Franziska Gerk.
The chick cannot swim yet because the fluffy baby feathers cannot repel the water. For the adults and teenagers, an oily layer ensures that no water gets to the inner feathers and the penguins stay warm.
Personal contact with the animals is important
Before the offspring can explore the water, he or she also goes to kindergarten – this is determined by a feather test. “So far, the chick only knows its parents. In kindergarten, it gets to know us keepers,” explains Rebecca van Lokven, adding, “We also show the chick how to eat whole fish.” Personal contact is important in order to be able to keep an eye on the animals. In this way, injuries can be detected early.
When the animal keeper gets up close and personal with her protégés, she can also control the feeding better. If Gerrit has sorted out too many crooked capelins and not eaten enough, she can slip him a few extra fish. Incidentally, the African penguins eat twelve kilograms together in one day. “They can’t overeat. The penguins only take as much fish as they need and when they are full, they simply stop eating,” says van Lokven, who is actually in charge of the Alaska area, but has also taken the penguins in Africa under her wing.
World Penguin Day with hands-on activities
On World Penguin Day, which is celebrated in the Zoom Erlebniswelt on April 23 (internationally, it actually takes place two days later), visitors can see the animals darting through the water. Animal keepers can also be pestered with questions and provide information about species protection. There are participatory activities for this.
Information about the event:
World Penguin Day, April 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Zoo opening hours 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.), Zoom Erlebniswelt, Bleckstrasse 64, Gelsenkirchen. Day tickets: adults 21.50 euros, children (4-12 years) 14 euros. cards over www.zoom-erlebniswelt.de
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