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Pierre the Penguin

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Animal

The Resume

    (February 16, 1983-May 8, 2016)
    Born in Baltimore, Maryland
    African penguin
    Hatched at the Baltimore Zoo
    Transferred to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco
    Went nearly bald when his feathers failed to grow back after molting (2005)
    Biologists designed a custom-tailored neoprene wetsuit to keep him warm (2008)
    After six weeks in the wetsuit, his feathers began growing back
    Subject of the children’s book ‘Pierre the Penguin: A True Story’ (2010)

Why he might be annoying:

    Unlike Patrick Stewart or Michael Jordan, bald was not a good look for him.
    His loss of feathers threatened his alpha male status.
    Other penguins shunned him when he went bald.

Why he might not be annoying:

    NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ called him ‘the world’s best-dressed penguin.’ (Not that there was much competition for the title.)
    After he donned the wetsuit and resumed swimming, the other penguins associated with him again and he regained his alpha status.
    He died of renal failure at age 33, more than twice the 15-year life expectancy of a penguin in the wild.
    Assistant curator Vikki McCloskey said, ‘He definitely had personality.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 94 Votes: 63.83% Annoying