African Penguins is stressed

[MasterAlek]

Many of my african penguins is stressed, due to "social".. But I have many penguins together, and they have all they need.. What could be wrong?

[Ellorien]

Probably stressed by the visitors.

[Varick]

Social is the heading. Social Group is the other penguins needed. Stress is caused by too many visitors viewing. They need some privacy.

[Banisha]

I often place several speakers with sounds from the animal's biome, that helps to calm them down.

[grampers62]

There can be periods of extra stress caused by things like an expectant birth and animals about to mature. Also if the space is shared with other species this too can create added stress. And of course the true big stress maker is proximity to visitors. Be sure to use one way glass for viewing points and plenty of screening plants. (outside the barrier will work) Also have a bit of a buffer zone between the habitat and adjacent paths. Place shy creatures in parts of the zoo that do not have high traffic. And I'm sure you already know to keep all the animal needs met including group size. And yes, adding ambient sounds will help to a lesser degree as will the quiet signs.

[MasterAlek]

Sounds like it might be because of visitors then.. I have an elevated path going right thrue the habitat. I'll try and do something about that.

[MasterAlek]

Originally posted by Banisha:

I often place several speakers with sounds from the animal's biome, that helps to calm them down.

I'll try that too

[Varick]

Originally posted by MasterAlek:

Sounds like it might be because of visitors then.. I have an elevated path going right thrue the habitat. I'll try and do something about that.

If you want to keep the elevated path and also have it as being able to view the penguins from it, put barrier one way glass (make it non perimeter) along the elevated path and, of course, do not have the one way glass go below the path level.