Walter the penguin loves popping bubbles
Popular Science...
Walter, a young African penguin at the New York Aquarium, is stealing hearts by bursting bubbles.
According to a social media post by the aquarium, Walter has shown a heightened interest in one of the many enrichment activities provided by his keepers: breaking bubbles with his beak. “As African penguins explore the world with their beaks, he will nip at the bubbles to investigate further,” the aquarium writes.
Enrichment activities give animals in human care (everything from pet dogs and cats up to larger zoo animals) a creative outlet for physical activity, mental stimulation, and a way to choose how they spend their time. They can include anything from introducing a new object that they must learn about or hiding food and encouraging their natural foraging skills.
The penguin hatched on December 4, 2025, marking the 19th hatching of an African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) at the New York Aquarium. The animals are considered Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The species, which is endemic to the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, is threatened by fish shortages, human disturbance, and pollution, among other threats. Its future projected population decline is over 80 percent, with no signs of reversing.
With his love for bubbles and curiosity, Walter is one part of his species’ conservation. The New York Aquarium participates in the SAFE Program for African penguins, an effort by over 50 zoos to save the African penguin from extinction.
“Combining field conservation, husbandry, and veterinary care, this undertaking has seen marked success; since 2005, the African penguin’s SSP population has grown by 47% with over 98% genetic diversity maintained,” according to a previous statement from the aquarium.
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