Remembering Long-Lived Animal Ambassadors

When we care for animals over the course of their lives at the New England Aquarium, we come to know the individual, including learning their unique personalities and habits, as we build relationships with them based on trust and respect. And with lives nearly double what they are in the wild due to the level of care we provide at the Aquarium, our extended time together makes saying goodbye to our oldest animals even harder. Today, we honor the lives of three geriatric animal ambassadors we’ve recently lost: Atlantic harbor seal Cayenne and African penguins Good Hope and Harlequin.

Cayenne

While heartbroken by the recent loss of Atlantic harbor seal Cayenne, we are celebrating her 33 years of life at the New England Aquarium, where she inspired countless people as an ambassador for her species. Cayenne will be remembered for her larger-than-life personality, as she always brought energy and “spunk” to her interactions with the team. During her training sessions, Cayenne was especially eager to learn new behaviors and often tried to guess what trainers were asking for before we could show her. Cayenne was naturally a curious but cautious animal. It was a testament to the strong, trusting relationships we built with her that we got to see her playful, sweet, and outgoing demeanor come through. We will cherish our memories with her and miss her deeply.

Good Hope

As one of the oldest African penguins in our colony, Good Hope was loved by so many staff, volunteers, and guests at the Aquarium. He kept trainers on their toes for nearly four decades with his mischievous behaviors like snatching fish out of the bucket when no one was looking or swimming up to nip at the wetsuit of any trainer who wasn’t paying enough attention to him. Good Hope’s playful streak made him a fan favorite. Although he will be missed, his legacy lives on through his chicks and grand-chicks, 22 African penguins in all, as part of the Species Survival Plan. Through this program, the Aquarium works with other institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to maintain a thoughtful breeding program for critically endangered species like the African penguin.

Harlequin

Harlequin was a really special geriatric bird at 34 years old. She was beautiful and spirited and kept the Animal Health team busy over the years. While one of the calmest in the colony, “Harley” revealed a different side of her personality as a protective mother—very few penguins (or humans) could get anywhere near her nest! Along with the eight chicks she parented, she was also a foster parent to several more. Her legacy will live on as her offspring have gone on to five different AZA-accredited organizations, where they will continue to be part of the African Penguin Species Survival Plan.

Cayenne, Good Hope, and Harlequin spent their lives helping people connect with their species. We’re grateful for every year we had with these wonderful animals, and we’ll carry their memories with us as we continue our mission of protecting the blue planet.