Best Friend, a male macaroni penguin at SeaWorld San Diego, recently celebrated his 40th birthday, making him a rarity as the average macaroni penguin only lives up to 15 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity. Belnick, a zoological specialist at SeaWorld, mentioned that fewer than 1% of penguins reach the age of 40. She credited the long life of Best Friend to the excellent care provided at SeaWorld and highlighted the importance of conservation and using ambassador animals like Best Friend to represent their species. While Best Friend is currently the oldest penguin at SeaWorld, he is not the record holder as an emperor penguin reached 49 years old a few years ago. Belnick expressed her admiration for Best Friend, stating that he still looks dashing at 40, and that seeing him every day warms her heart. Best Friend was hatched in San Diego in 1984, and his long life is seen as a testament to the dedication and care provided by the staff at SeaWorld. The milestone of turning 40 for Best Friend is considered a significant achievement in the world of penguins.
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