One of the oldest penguins under human care has died at 40, zoo says

One of the oldest penguins living under human care has died, the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens announced.

Captain EO, a legendary Magellanic penguin and fixture of San Francisco Zoo history,  died at an estimated 40 years old, the zoo confirmed Thursday. 

The species, native to South America, has an average life expectancy of 20 to 30 years, according to the zoo.

“While many of the penguins here have personalities that are endearing and even comical, Captain was admired for having a personality that was more of an older sophisticated gentleman,” Quinn Brown, the zoo’s assistant curator of birds who has worked with Captain EO for more than 20 years, said in a statement. 

Captain EO first arrived at the zoo in 1984 to join 51 other penguins in a new colony. He was the last surviving member of the original colony.

“He was a dedicated partner to his long-time mate, a defender of his burrow and with animal care staff, he did not partake in the usual shenanigans of stealing fish from others, or pushing his way through the crowd for fish,” Brown said. 

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