Vancouver Aquarium’s African penguins moving to Edmonton

The Vancouver Aquarium is preparing to say goodbye to its small group of African penguins.

The facility says it “has been able to support the SAFE program by providing a home” to the animals.

VanAqua adds “an opportunity has developed” for the penguins to be part of a bigger colony, meaning they will be making their way to Edmonton where they’ll live in another Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility.

The move is expected to take place before the end of May.

“Although we are sad to see them go, this move will help further advance efforts to address population declines of this endangered species,” the aquarium wrote in a tweet.

The Vancouver Aquarium notes that African penguins are currently listed as endangered in the wild. The number of these animals in southern Africa has dropped 90 per cent since the early 1900s, it adds.

A number of issues are believed to have led to the population decline, including commercial fishing and increases to ocean temperatures affecting food sources.

The aquarium says climate change’s effects on African Penguin habitats are also a contributing factor.