News Highlights for Fall 2023

This Fall we welcomed three new otters and also said goodbye to some beloved members of our Aquarium animal family. We also hosted a photo contest for our 25th Anniversary.

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Robin Riggs

September 12, 2023

Beloved Penguins Passed Away

Fisher and Ludwig, two penguins beloved by Aquarium staff, passed away on August 16 and September 12 respectively. In their last days, the penguins showed similar symptoms of lethargy and decreased appetites and were under close watch and care by the Aquarium’s veterinary and animal husbandry teams. Testing indicated an infection with avian malaria as the most likely cause of illness, so they were receiving anti-malaria medication and supportive treatment in a behind-the-scenes care area. Avian malaria is a serious disease in penguins that is not transmissible between birds and cannot be transferred to people. All the penguins at the Aquarium, including Fisher and Ludwig, receive preventative malaria medicine year-round as a precaution. Breakthrough cases are not common but can happen. Magellanic penguins are found in and aroud the coasts of South America, including Chile, Argentina, and Peru. In the wild their average lifespan is 10 years and up to 20 years. “Ludwig was a shy penguin, but once he connected with staff he was endearing,” said Brett Long, senior director of mammals and birds, Aquarium of the Pacific. “Fisher was curious, easy going with the other penguins, and just had a sweet and gentle nature about him.”

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific / Robin Riggs

New Sea Otter Pups at the Aquarium

The Aquarium of the Pacific welcomed three new sea otter pups, who were deemed non-releasable to the wild by the US Fish and Wildlife Service because they were unable to survive in the ocean. These pups were named Elle, Bee, and Cee, whose names pronounced together represent the letters “LBC” in celebration of the city of Long Beach.