Humboldt penguins live in social colonies and form long-lasting pair bonds, mating for life. Both male and female share responsibilities for incubating their eggs and feeding their chicks. The chicks are born covered in soft brownish grey down and learn to recognise their parents by sight and sound.

Named after the cold Humboldt current that flows northward from Antarctica along the Pacific Coast of South America, this penguin's diet consists primarily of anchovies, sardines, squid, and crustaceans such as shrimp and krill. Unlike other birds, the Humboldt penguin does not drink water; instead, it has a specialised gland that removes salt from the seawater it ingests while swallowing prey.

The Humboldt penguin is considered Endangered, primarily due to changes in the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt current, which affects its habitat and prey availability. Overfishing and ocean acidification also pose significant threats to its survival. Current estimates suggest that in the region of 24,000 individuals remain in the wild.

Fossilised remains of giant penguins, standing over five feet tall, have been found in Antarctica. There are 18 species of penguins, all of which live in the Southern Hemisphere. The Humboldt penguin belongs to the "Jackass" group of penguins, named for their distinctive braying call that sounds like a donkey.

At Fota Wildlife Park, the penguins are fed a diet of sprat, a type of fish similar to what they would naturally consume in the wild. Their habitat is connected to Cork Harbour, providing the birds with natural seawater which facilitates hunting.