Penguin parade to Israel bursts: war and malaria stop animals!

Penguin parade to Israel bursts: war and malaria stop animals!

Hoyerswerda, Deutschland - The move of the glasses penguins from the Hoyerswerda Zoo to Israel, which was originally planned for a close time, is considerably delayed. The reason for this unexpected delay is the current war between Israel and Iran. Eugène Bruins, the head of the Hoyerswerda Zoo, found clear words: "I will not send the animals to war," reports MDR .

The glasses penguins that should move to the Zoo in Haifa are currently suffering from Vogel-Malaria, an illness caused by parasites called Plasmodium and is transmitted by mosquitoes. This disease is particularly dangerous for birds in zoos, which is why the animals are regularly treated with malaria prophylaxis. Nevertheless, this treatment does not offer a 100 % protection, as the last developments show because two penguins have already died.

risks and challenges

The lakes in the Haifa region, which are known for their favorable conditions for increasing insects, increase the risk of further spreading bird malaria. The glasses penguins originally come from low -mosquito coastal regions of South Africa and are therefore not prepared for such pathogens. The climate in Haifa is similar to that of its homeland, but the animals are currently in a precarious situation due to the illness and the war situation. Bruins indicates that the keeping of the penguins in the Hoyerswerda Zoo could be given up shouldn't change anything.

The preparations for the transport of the penguins were stopped indefinitely, and Bruins emphasized that the situation must calm down before a move can even be considered.

Current events in the Hoyerswerda Zoo

Away from the penguins, there is also positive news in the Hoyerswerda Zoo. The meerkat queen Heidi recently gave birth to four young animals who were born in early May 2025. In contrast to the challenging circumstances of the penguins, which require an increased level of attention to protect the animals in the best possible way. The hatching of two singing swan chicks this week is also a ray of hope.

On June 1, 2025, the city children's day also took place, in which the zoo served as a playground. Such events help to strengthen the binding of the population to the zoo. Last year a total of 194,065 people visited the cultural institutions in Hoyerswerda, which impressively underlines the high popularity of the zoo.

In addition, the zoo takes part in the nature conservation initiative "Zooier of the Year" 2025, which focuses on the ribbon. These engagements are important to raise awareness of endangered animal species and to protect their habitats.

The situation for the glasses penguins remains of great importance, and the responsible work is to find a solution that takes into account both the safety of the animals and the challenges in internationally uncertain times. The explanations of Kulturzoo also show how important preventive measures and research are when dealing with bird malaria, especially with regard to the future health of animals and the protection of the species. Only through precise knowledge of the transmission dynamics and the review of vectors can the challenges in the zoo be addressed effectively, as well as "https://www.zoo.ch/de/naturschutz-tiere/forschung/muecken-als-s-als-der-vogelmalaria"> zoo.ch