Seven penguins mysteriously drown at calgary zoo

It has been reported that seven Humboldt penguins were found dead at a zoo in Canada over the weekend. The penguins were due to perform in one of Calgary Zoo’s shows, when it was discovered that all seven had died in a holding area.

The cause of death is still unknown, although zoo staff are reported to believe that the penguins may have been startled by something which occurred near the pen, causing them to drown. However, our colleagues at Zoocheck Canada have described this explanation as “hard to imagine”. 

The death of the penguins is the latest incident in a string of problems at Calgary Zoo, as two staff members were recently disciplined for contributing to the death of a 12 year-old river otter. 

The Born Free Foundation is calling for an urgent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, and is calling for a review of the current welfare standards at the zoo.