On the morning of Tuesday, March 18, 2025, five male and five female Gentoo penguins, aged between one and twelve years, arrived at the Penguin Cave in The Land of the Cold. After a mandatory quarantine period, they will be introduced to the colony, which currently consists of 52 penguins. Pairi Daiza is delighted to offer these ten birds a new home. The caretakers and veterinarians are looking forward to taking care of them.

A closely monitored arrival for a successful integration

The Gentoo penguins at Pairi Daiza belong to a subspecies originally found in regions approximately 2,000 km southeast of South Africa and south of New Zealand. The six individuals that have been living in the Penguin Cave since 2021 were previously entrusted to Pairi Daiza by Marineland.

Welcoming these ten new residents is a special moment where every detail matters. To ensure their well-being and that of the other penguins, they must first go through a quarantine period.

The caretakers and veterinarians are carefully monitoring their health and preparing them for a smooth integration into the colony. Step by step, they will get to know their new family and explore the large Penguin Cave.

A growing penguin colony

With the addition of the ten Gentoo penguins, once their quarantine is completed, a total of 62 penguins will inhabit the Penguin Cave:

• 40 Gentoo penguins,
• 6 King penguins,
• 16 Rockhopper penguins.

To contribute to the protection of these sub-Antarctic species, Pairi Daiza participates in the European conservation and breeding programs (EEP) of the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).