Meet Flop, a remarkable Humboldt penguin whose journey of survival has captured hearts!
Flop hatched in April under the care of devoted parents, but her world changed tragically when her mother passed away a few weeks later. Her father began leaving the nest for extended periods, prompting the zoo’s bird team to step in and raise Flop alongside four other chicks already in their care.
Initially, Flop thrived, but after moving to the juvenile isolation area for further development, she began limping. A vet visit revealed an infection, and despite pain relief and medication, Flop’s condition worsened within 24 hours. She lost her ability to stand, her appetite decreased, and her future looked uncertain.
Determined to give her a fighting chance, the bird team devised creative solutions. Penguins naturally consume large meals infrequently, but for Flop, who could no longer stand, this was uncomfortable. The team switched to feeding her smaller amounts more frequently, even returning late at night for a final feed. To ensure she received her antibiotics and maintained her weight, they resorted to careful force-feeding.
To alleviate pressure on her organs and encourage upright posture, the team handcrafted a “baby bouncer” for Flop. Each morning, they placed her in the bouncer to help her engage her feet and hips. They also built a treadmill and adapted a baby walker to support her recovery, but at first, Flop refused to walk—even for her favorite fish.
Progress was slow but steady. Inspired by similar cases, including one from Toronto Zoo, the team implemented new techniques to aid Flop’s recovery. They introduced her to Penguin Bay’s off-show pool, where swimming sessions significantly improved her condition. Soon, Flop began lifting her head, stumbling forward, and eventually standing upright on her own.
With help from an animal physiotherapist, Flop continued to gain strength through carefully designed exercises. Within a month, she spent her first full day in the isolation area with other juveniles. Though she remains smaller and lighter than her peers and retains a slight hunch in her back, Flop’s resilience has ensured her place in the colony’s heart.
Flop’s story is a testament to the dedication of her caretakers and the incredible spirit of survival. Her journey serves as an inspiration and a reminder of the extraordinary lengths we can go to protect and nurture the animals in our care.