Did You Know? Killer whales are the top predator in the ocean; a healthy adult can prey on anything that lives in the sea and has no predators of its own. View More Humboldt penguin » Bengal Tiger » Asian Elephant » Bald Eagle » Commerson's Dolphin » Bornean Orangutan » Humboldt penguin » Hawaiian Monk Seal » Red-legged seriema » Western Lowland Gorilla

Common name: Humboldt penguin Scientific name: Spheniscus humboldti Natural distribution: Humboldt penguins inhabit islands off western South America and along the coasts of Peru and Chile. Size: 22 to 26 in. (56-66 cm) Weight: 9 lb. (4 kg) Status: Endangered - approximately 33,000 left in the wild Threats to survival: Habitat destruction, oil spills, pollution and reduction of food resources from over-fishing. What the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks are doing: SeaWorld is a participating institution in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the endangered Humboldt penguin. Since the 1970s, more than 100 Humboldt penguins have hatched at SeaWorld San Diego. Currently, SeaWorld is working with researchers from the University of Sydney and the Brookfield Zoo to study the effects of adult penguin diet on egg viability. The zoological study's results will also be compared to results from the wild to identify differences and further improve the care of these endangered birds in managed environments. While Humboldt penguins still face pressure from El Niño events and fatal interactions with fishermen, breeding programs at zoological parks such as SeaWorld, careful regulation of human interactions and ongoing educational efforts are strengthening the species' chances for long-term survival.