Sea World’s penguin diva Dee dies at 40

BELIEVED to be the world’s oldest African penguin‚ u-Shaka Sea World’s legendary Dee has died.

Durban’s u-Shaka Sea World said the 40-year-old penguin had died peacefully on Tuesday.

Dee spent time in the East London Aquarium’s rehabilitation facility after she was found washed up on a beach in East London in 1980.

After attempts to reintroduce her to the ocean failed‚ she was confirmed un-releasable and flown to Sea World to join the resident penguin colony.

“It was estimated that Dee was three years old on arrival and she wasted no time in forming a relationship with Tea-Bag, [then] the only male penguin in the colony,” Sea World said yesterday.

“They formed a formidable duo while they were together.

“At that time, it was generally thought that penguins mated for life.

“Dee proved the exception to this rule and enjoyed a number of different husbands throughout her life as males repetitively vied for her affections.

“Throughout her life‚ Dee was the matriarch of the colony and commanded respect from her contemporaries.

“She ‘henpecked’ her husbands‚ was terribly fussy about the size and texture of her food‚ monopolised the water when she felt like it‚ commanded the u-Shaka Sea World staff with impunity and was never afraid to claim what she felt was hers.”

Although Dee was affectionately recognised as a “diva”‚ she also had a generous‚ softer side, Sea World said.

She raised 10 chicks and was an attentive‚ protective parent.

Over the past few years Dee was treated for some age-related ailments and slept with her decades-younger final mate, Larnie, in a specially designed area of the colony away from the noisy youngsters.

She was removed from the colony two weeks before she died as her condition appeared to be deteriorating.