‘World’s oldest penguin’ turns 38 with fish-topped cake

By James Gamble

A penguin believed to be the oldest in the world has celebrated her 38th birthday with an impressive ice cake topped with fishy treats.

Spneb, who was named after the medication which saved her life, is said to be the oldest Humboldt penguin on the planet, according to global zoo records.

But Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Hayle, Cornwall, said despite her advanced years, she has not lost her sparkle and is still as inquisitive as ever.

The sanctuary marked Spneb's milestone on Thursday (April 16) with a party and a special ice cake loaded with her favorite treats — Cornish sardines and sprats.

Her keepers finished off the cake with blue food dye and presented it to the birthday girl in front of her fans.

Spneb's keeper Becky Waite, said the penguin still enjoys a healthy appetite and a "nosey peek" out of her nest box, despite being the eldest in the colony.

"She happily supervises the youngsters like a feathery neighbourhood watch," Waite said.

"Her companion, Prince, is 21 years old and should have been born a peacock, as he loves to show off."

Spneb's unusual name blends the names of the medications that helped her through a tough battle with fungal infection aspergillos back in 2007.

After four months of treatment and a lot of determination, she made a strong recovery.

Though Humboldt penguins are native to the western coast of South America, they stay cool thanks to a bare patch on their faces that blushes red to release heat — like a built-in air-conditioning system.

Humboldt penguins are now endangered in the wild due to pollution and human activity.