Can I buy a penguin for my girlfriend and keep it in a outdoor environment, can you get them where from and can they live in an outdoor environment. She'd love it, is this cruel?
2007-01-10 08:18:49 · 24 answers · asked by Dale H 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
It wouldn't be cruel if you really knew what you were getting into and had the proper environment and resources. However, I really don't think you understand what is involved.
First off, all species of penguin are protected so that you could only (legally) get a penguin from a Zoo that had bred it. You couldn't buy a wild caught one.
Secondly, you would need a constant and reliable supply of fresh frozen fish as well as appropriate vitamin supplements, you would also need to know a vet who was familiar with penguins and the many diseases they are prone to when kept in captivity.
Thirdly, you would need to be able to feed the birds every day so you couldn't take any more vacations! You can't just put a penguin into a kennel!
Fourthly, you would need to build a suitable enclosure to keep the bird - remember different species have very different environmental requirements (temperature, vegetation etc.). For example, there are no species of penguin that could live outside year round in say Chicago with its wide temperature variations. Plus all species of penguins require access to a large, deep and clean pool of water - preferably salt water.
Fifthly, penguins tend to live in large colonies - anything less than say 20 birds would not be sufficient. So you would need a very healthy income. It costs around $700 per year just to keep one penguin in fish!
Finally, why would you want to keep penguins for yourself anyway? They are much better left in the wild or in well looked after breeding colonies in Zoos and Aquaria. Remember that nearly all species are endangered to some extent or another.
2007-01-10 09:34:36 · answer #1 · answered by Rags to Riches 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't be so sure your girlfriend would love a live penguin. At the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, they have a bunch of penguins, and my daughter and I were there one day when the guy who cared for them had one of the penguins out so people could look at it up close and even touch it.
This one woman went up to the penguin, and I don't know what she did that made it mad, but she sure did make it mad. That little penguin started jabbing her bare leg (she was wearing shorts) with its beak. It turns out their beaks are like razors! The lady started screaming and trying to get away, and the penguin went after her, jabbing and hissing something awful. That penguin would have chased the lady all over the lawn if the penguin handler guy hadn't held it back!
He said that they can be temperamental and aggressive, and that when they peck you, it really HURTS.
Get your girlfriend a nice stuffed penguin and leave the real birds to the professionals. Apparently they are much nicer in the movies or on TV than in reality.
(PS-- Penguins don't smell very good unless their enclosure is kept very, very clean.)
2007-01-10 08:26:22 · answer #2 · answered by Karin C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I look after penguins as part of my job.
First, you need an Endangered Animals License, which is not easy to get.
If you go for an Emperor or Adelie penguin, then you will need a special refrigerated enclosure for them.
Other penguins would be easier to keep.
However, they bite extremely hard. They are very smelly and messy birds. They eat a LOT of fish every day. You will end up smelling of fish for the rest of your life (believe me on this one!).
Don't do it. Come to London Zoo and adopt one, then you can visit it as often as you like, and let the professionals look after it.
2007-01-10 08:46:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Penguins are protected animals. You'd have to be licensed in some sort of conservation-ish job or own a zoo to get a penguin. Sorry.
Maybe she'd settle for a duck.
2007-01-10 08:30:16 · answer #4 · answered by Toni J. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Can I buy a penguin (Not a chocolate bar)?
Can I buy a penguin for my girlfriend and keep it in a outdoor environment, can you get them where from and can they live in an outdoor environment. She'd love it, is this cruel?
2015-08-16 22:45:19 · answer #5 · answered by Hobey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're just stirring the pot aren't you?
The answer is that most animals are for sale if you have enough money and can go through the hoops to obtain a USDA permit. I've never seen a penguin for sale but that doesn't mean they aren't out there.
I would think that given their lifestyle, their requirments would be high and their tolerance outside those perimeters would be fairly low meaning the animal would probably die quickly under anything but professional care.
2007-01-10 08:31:24 · answer #6 · answered by SC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no reason why you can't buy a penguin try harrods they will charge a bit more but they can get anything, as far as keeping one at home you may have to satisfy certain guidlines but they are not endangered nor are they dangerous.Good hunting
2007-01-10 08:29:41 · answer #7 · answered by Loo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Penguin For Sale Uk
2016-11-10 20:54:26 · answer #8 · answered by granroth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love Penguins (the bird type not the chocolate) and would love to own one but they need specialist caring in captivity and to keep one without that would be cruel, so if you really want one for your girlfiend offer to sponser one at your local zoo or wildlife park that would be doing something for the species as with global warming their natural habitat is being destroyed. Do something for the natural world and your girlfriend will love you for ever!!!
2007-01-10 08:30:39 · answer #9 · answered by Maggie M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because penguins are used to vey cold climates so you would need to live in an extremely cold climate or a zoo because they make it so that the penguins are comfortable but you could adopt one to protect it from hunter and I`m sure youre girlfriedn would love it if she could adopt a penguin
2007-01-10 08:31:51 · answer #10 · answered by little_miss_novo_no1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋