Racine Zoo Mourns Death of Longtime African Penguin “Yellow”

RACINE, WI – (WRJN) – The Racine Zoo is mourning the loss of one of its longtime residents, an African penguin named Yellow, who died earlier this month just two weeks before her 35th birthday.

Yellow arrived at the zoo in 2007 and quickly became a favorite among guests and staff. She was known for the yellow band on her left flipper, her morning swims, and afternoon naps on “Yellow’s rock.”

At nearly 35, Yellow far surpassed the typical life expectancy of her species. African penguins in the wild live about 15 to 20 years, while those in human care often reach 20 to 30 years. Zoo staff say Yellow was the third-oldest African penguin living in an accredited facility.

In her later years, Yellow developed arthritis, a common condition for aging penguins. Veterinarians and keepers adjusted her treatment several times, but her mobility and appetite eventually declined. After careful consideration of her quality of life, zoo staff say they made the difficult decision to euthanize her on Feb. 4.

African penguins are native to South Africa and are listed as critically endangered