Meet Our Penguins: Gentoo

Posted September 23, 2024

Posted By D_oceanworld

Meet Our Penguins: Gentoo

Meet the world’s fastest waddle!

Venture into the icy realms of Antarctica and encounter our fascinating gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua). Recognisable by the distinctive white patches above their eyes and their vibrant orange beaks, these penguins are superbly adapted to life in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Each penguin in our waddle—a charming term for a group of penguins—can be identified by a unique colour-coded wingband, making it easy to spot them.

Bubbles

Bubbles is a playful and curious penguin who loves swimming and exploring new toys. She’s always watching the keepers, especially when they spread out fresh snow—her favourite! She even prefers to eat her favourite food, sprat, while swimming.
Wingband: Yellow

Candy

Candy is a quiet, sweet-natured penguin who may be small but has a big appetite—often eating three fish in a row! She’s known for her patience and her light-coloured feet, making her a standout in the colony.
Wingband: red/green

Erik

Erik has two great loves in life: food and his pal, Bubbles. He’s always the first in line at lunchtime, and if there’s fish on the way, you can bet he’s already there, eagerly waiting. While he doesn’t care much for mingling with the rest of the colony, Erik is perfectly happy as long as he’s got a full belly and Bubbles by his side.
Wingband: Black/Green

Fletcher

Born in Edinburgh in 2007, Fletcher is a quiet and gentle penguin with a unique way of eating—he takes his fish from the side! He’s a devoted partner to Sneachta, and together they are parents to Uisce, born here in 2014.
Wingband: Red/black

Grian

We’re overjoyed to introduce our newest chick, Grian, the first gentoo penguin hatched at Oceanworld in ten years! Born to Candy and Sven on 23 May 2024, Grian is an absolute livewire. She follows her keepers everywhere with no fear, always inquisitive and eager to know what’s going on with everything around her.
Wingband: black/yellow

Hugh

Born in 1989, Hugh is the oldest penguin in the waddle and a true gentleman. While a bit reserved in his old age, he still loves playing with bubbles and ribbons. Hugh is a master nest-builder, always on the lookout for the perfect stones—even if it means stealing them from other nests!
Wingband: Blue/purple

Kerry

Born in 2009, Kerry is a curious and gentle penguin who loves investigating everything around her. She enjoys hunting for small pieces of fish and playing ball with her keepers. During breeding season, she fiercely protects her nest, only leaving for food or a quick swim.
Wingband: Green/yellow

Missy

Missy is a playful penguin who loves chasing objects through the water and spending time with her partner, Bubbles. Fiercely protective of her nest, she enjoys a dip in the pool when off-duty. Her favourite food is chunky whiting, and she loves admiring herself in her hanging mirror!
Wingband: Black/white

Noldus

Noldus is the cheekiest penguin in the waddle, known for his greedy nature and mischievous antics. He’s always on the lookout for a chance to swipe fish from the others, earning him the title of the group’s resident fish thief! His naughty behaviour keeps the keepers on their toes, but his playful charm makes him a fan favourite.
Wingband: Blue

Paddy

Paddy is a gentle giant who gets extra excited at feeding time, happily devouring even the biggest fish! He has a quirky habit of jumping out of the pool on the opposite side from the others, running across the enclosure to get to the food.
Wingband: Orange/white

Penelope

Penelope is a true penguin’s penguin—only interested in keepers when they have food! She loves whiting and has a quirky habit of grabbing her fish and running away to eat it. When on her nest, Penelope is fiercely protective, giving a warning pinch to anything that gets too close.
Wingband: Yellow/red

Sneachta

Sneachta is the bravest and most curious of the group, always the first to investigate new toys or enrichment. She loves playing with the keepers, even when they’re busy cleaning! Sneachta is also the proud mother of Uisce, and they share the same playful personality. Her name is the Irish word for snow!
Wingband: Blue/white

Steffi

Steffi is a playful and curious penguin with a big love for sprat. You’ll often find her interacting with visitors and keepers, showing off her energetic personality. Steffi thrives on enrichment activities, always eager to explore new toys and games. Her enthusiasm makes her a joy to watch!
Wingband: Orange

Sven

Sven is a quiet and patient penguin, especially during feeding time, often waiting while others grab their fish. He and Candy make a great team during breeding season. His favourite foods are whiting and krill, which he loves to eat while swimming!
Wingband: Purple

Tom (Tom Crean)

Named after the great Antarctic explorer from Kerry, Tom is definitely the naughtiest penguin in the colony. He loves skipping the queue for fish, pushing his way to the front, and even stealing fish from others. However, when it comes to his partner Kerry, Tom is a total sweetheart. He ensures she gets enough time off the nest to eat and is a great protector of their nest.
Wingband: Green/white

Uisce

Uisce is the first Irish-born gentoo penguin, so he is our pride and joy. As the youngest, he’s one of the most inquisitive penguins in the waddle, always curious about his surroundings and finding everything interesting. He’s also the chattiest of the group, often calling out while swimming in the pool!
Wingband: Green/white/orange