Humboldt penguins on the roof terrace of the OZEANEUM

Penguin love: black and white and a hint of green

On Valentine’s Day, couples typically arrange a romantic dinner, and send cards or flowers as a token of their affection.
A certain penguin couple at the OZEANEUM probably didn’t plan all this, but that didn’t stop the two from falling in love.
The Humboldt penguins, which were brought in from the Schwerin Zoo, were likely an item before moving to Stralsund. They spent their initial time after arriving in Stralsund in quarantine exploring everything, leaving no stone unturned and enjoying some togetherness. After the pair hopped the security fence in the quarantine area, they found a cozy spot in a sink and turned it into their very own love nest.

Five male and four female Humboldt penguins live in the penguin enclosure on the roof terrace of the OZEANEUM. The penguins sport colored markings on their wings so staff have an easier time distinguishing them. As luck would have it, the two Penguins that fell in love with each other both received a green marking. In the meanwhile, the “green” couple have now declared the outermost tip of Penguin Rock their territory. There visitors can see how the two preen each other’s feathers and snuggle. Penguin couples stay together for many years, sometimes even for their entire lives. They will defend their territory if necessary. This behavior is typical of mating penguins. Sometimes it seems as if the two “greens" even take a moment to enjoy the sunset over Stralsund's Old Town from the top of the OZEANEUM, and it remains to be seen whether any offspring will make an appearance in the near future.