Although the current climate crisis has undoubtedly exacerbated the issue, the African penguin’s battle against diminishing numbers stretches as far back as 22,000 years. However, around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, warming global temperatures began to cause ocean levels to rise, eventually sinking much of the African penguins’ original habitats. Prior to Gabby and Shubert, Adventure Aquarium hadn’t hosted new hatchlings since 2020. As for how Duffy and Oscar got their names: Duffy is in honor of a longtime aquarium staff member, while her brother’s moniker has much more humble origins. Like his dad, Myer, Oscar is named after the humble hot dog.