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NewsWorld's oldest penguin born in Surrey celebrates her birthday with a special cakeShe's "amazing for her age"getsurreyBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByLucy ThornePublisherHolly Stafford
(SWNS)12:47, 22 APR 2025BookmarkSpneb is believed to be one of the world's oldest Humboldt penguins (Image: Paradise Park / SWNS)
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Show MeNo thanks, closeSee ourPrivacy NoticeThe world's oldest penguin has celebrated her birthday with a cake made of fish and ice. Humboldt penguin Spneb was born at Birdworld in 1988.
She celebrated her 37th birthday on Wednesday, April 16 with a cake featuring her favourite fish - sprats - topped with a fluffy toy penguin made by one of her keepers.
Spneb's keepers say records kept by zoos around the world suggest she is the oldest of her species across the globe and is "amazing for her age". Humboldt's usually live for
between 10 to 15 years.
She moved from the attraction near Farnham shortly after she was born and has lived at Paradise Park zoo, in Hayle, Cornwall, ever since.
Spneb celebrated her 37th birthday with a cakefeaturing her favourite fish - sprats (Image: Paradise Park / SWNS)
Becky Waite, one of Spneb's keepers, said: "Spneb continues to have a good appetite, although she's an elderly penguin. She is doing amazingly well for her age.
"We have a colony of 24 Humboldt's penguins, including two chicks. Spneb likes to keep an eye on all the youngsters while looking out of her box, and her favourite companion is one of
the older males."
Spneb unusual name was picked by keepers after she was treated for a dangerous fungal disease called Aspergillosis in 2007. Her treatment involved a drug called 'Sp' administered
using a nebuliser, or a 'neb' which led to her unusual name.
Humboldt penguins are native to the west coast of South America, specifically the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru.