The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is mourning the loss of a beloved Magellanic penguin named Fisher, who passed away after a brief illness.
Fisher was born at the Aquarium in 2016 and was known for his spirited and easy-going personality. His passing came as a surprise to the staff, who noticed symptoms of lethargy and decreased appetite in the week leading up to his death.
Despite being under close observation and receiving preventative treatments for avian malaria—a serious disease in penguins—it is suspected that an infection of this disease caused Fisher’s sudden illness. Although all of the Aquarium’s resident penguins are preventatively treated for avian malaria, breakthrough cases can occur, albeit uncommonly. A necropsy will be conducted to confirm this suspicion.
The Aquarium has reassured visitors that avian malaria is not transmissible between birds or to humans.
Fisher was one of 20 Magellanic penguins residing at the Aquarium of the Pacific. In the wild, these penguins inhabit the coasts of South America, including Chile, Argentina, and Peru, with an average lifespan of 10 to 20 years.