A Disturbing Pattern Emerges in Zoo Penguins With Unlimited Food

Researchers compared biological and chronological ages of 64 king penguins using DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks.

Zoo penguins showed accelerated epigenetic aging compared with wild penguins despite longer median survival in captivity.

The study used samples from 34 wild birds on Possession Island and 30 zoo birds from Zoo Zürich and Loro Parque.

A survival analysis of ~1,900 wild and >300 zoo records found median survival about 13.5 years in the wild versus about 21 years in zoos.

Researchers have started an intervention trial encouraging captive penguins to exercise more and eat less to test effects on aging.