Walter the penguin loves popping bubbles

Walter, a young African penguin hatched at the New York Aquarium on December 4, 2025, marks the 19th African penguin hatching at the facility; the aquarium participates in the SAFE Program involving over 50 zoos, which since 2005 has grown the African penguin SSP population by 47% while maintaining over 98% genetic diversity.

African penguins remain Critically Endangered with projected population decline over 80%; captive breeding success does not reverse wild population threats.