Azulito, a nearly 11-year-old little penguin, died earlier this month, according to the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
Azulito was one of several little blue penguins featured in the Beyster family’s Little Blue Penguins exhibition.
Aquarium officials said Azulito died on August 8 of suspected natural causes. With a typical life expectancy of seven to 10 years for little penguins, Azulito was considered geriatric but was otherwise in good health, a recent physical examination showed.
“Azulito was an important member of the colony who brought joy to all of us with his curious personality,” Assistant Bird Curator Kayla Strate said in a statement. “It’s never easy to lose a member of our animal family, so thank you for your support and care. It’s a privilege to have these animals in our care and to tell their stories. Thank you for being a part of his journey.”
Azulito came to the aquarium from Australia in 2021. His name, which means “little blue” in Spanish, was the result of a public naming contest held in 2022.
Native to coastal areas of Australia and New Zealand, Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world. Their enclosure at Birch includes a 270 square meter habitat, a 60,000 liter tank, a sandy beach and native plants that mimic the coastline of their natural habitat.
City News Service contributed to this article.
