Birch Aquarium Announces the Passing of “Azulito”
Staff are mourning the loss of one of the aquarium’s favorite LIttle Blue Penguins.
Photo by: Jordann Tomasek, Birch Aquarium
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La Jolla, CA (Aug. 19, 2024) — Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography today announced the passing of Azulito, one of its most popular Little Blue Penguins.
Azulito, who died on August 8, came to Birch Aquarium from Australia in 2021 for the opening of Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins. He was named Azulito — which means “little blue” in Spanish — through a public naming contest and has been wowing audiences ever since.
“Azulito was an important member of the colony who brought all of us joy with his curious personality,” said Assistant Curator of Birds Kayla Strate. “It is never easy to lose a member of our animal family, so thank you for your support and caring. It's a privilege to have these animals in our care and to tell their stories. Thank you for being a part of his journey.”
At nearly 11, Azulito was considered geriatric for a Little Blue Penguin, which have a typical life expectancy of 7-10 years. His recent physical reported him in good health and he is believed to have died from natural causes.
Little Blue Penguins are native to the warm climate of coastal Australia and New Zealand which is very similar to our climate here in San Diego. They are the smallest species of penguin in the world.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features the groundbreaking work of Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego scientists as well as conservation breeding programs and interactive exhibits. Birch Aquarium’s mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, which it achieves through engaging hands-on learning opportunities for more than 500,000 guests and 40,000-plus pre-K-12 students each year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.
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