At 33 years old, Lambert the African penguin faces challenges familiar to many seniors.

His vision is failing. He's slowing down. And competing with younger, more aggressive peers for space has become dangerous.

Lambert, however, couldn't move to just any nursing home.

He's a critically endangered African penguin.

So, his caregivers at the New England Aquarium created something special – a geriatric island where he and six other aging penguins can live together safely.

The idea started as a joke among staff.

But when they noticed the physical limitations affecting their older birds, the concept became serious.

In February, the aquarium opened the specialized island near its entrance, set apart from the rest of the 38-bird colony.

The rocky island features flatter terrain than the main habitat.

A carpeted path leads down to the water, helping penguins with mobility issues navigate more easily.

The aquarium installed a stand that makes it easier for the birds to hop out of the water.

On a recent visit, Lambert stood at the island's peak with his mate, Dyer III.

The two preened one another, occasionally letting out loud calls that sounded like a donkey's bray.

When Luzietti coaxed him down, Lambert settled calmly in her lap for his daily dose of eye drops for glaucoma.

The geriatric facility reflects a broader issue confronting zoos and aquariums worldwide – what to do when animals survive far longer than their counterparts in the wild.

Some of the aquarium's African penguins are in their 30s, and one lived into its 40s.

That's twice as long as they would live in the wilds of South Africa and Namibia, where pollution and lack of food due to overfishing threaten the critically endangered species.

These penguins, with their trademark black and white feathers, stand about two feet tall and weigh about the size of a large cat.

In the wild, their maximum lifespan is typically 15 to 20 years.

In captivity, with regular meals, veterinary care, and protection from predators, they're defying expectations.

Caring for aging penguins, however, extends far beyond a safer enclosure.

The older birds receive more frequent checkups than their younger counterparts.

Veterinarians offer treatments that might sound familiar to older people – supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis and joint pain, eye drops for glaucoma like Lambert receives daily.

The aquarium installed additional cameras around the geriatric island so staff can better monitor the birds for signs of aging-related problems.

The separation from the main colony isn't just about terrain – it ensures the older penguins don't have to compete for territory with often aggressive younger birds.

The success of Lambert's move suggests the concept is working.

His increased activity level since relocating indicates that the accommodations are making a real difference in his quality of life.

He spends more time swimming with Dyer III, his longtime mate, and ventures off the island more frequently than before.

The geriatric island represents a growing recognition in the zoo and aquarium community that animal welfare means adapting care as residents age.

Just as human society has developed specialized facilities and care approaches for elderly people, institutions housing animals are recognizing the need for age-appropriate accommodations.

For Lambert and his six island companions, the specialized habitat offers something invaluable – the ability to age with dignity while staying with their friends.

The critically endangered penguins, each one genetically important to their species' survival, can live out their years in comfort and safety.

African penguins face severe threats in the wild.

Their numbers have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, climate change affecting fish populations, and overfishing that depletes their food sources.

Every individual matters for the species' conservation, making the specialized care of aging birds not just a welfare issue but a conservation priority.

The New England Aquarium's approach may serve as a model for other institutions facing similar challenges.

As veterinary medicine advances and animal husbandry improves, many captive animals are living beyond previously expected ages.

The geriatric island concept offers one solution to ensuring these animals can age comfortably.

Lambert, for now, appears content with his island paradise.

With his mate by his side, manageable terrain beneath his feet, and daily care from dedicated trainers, the 33-year-old penguin is proving that retirement – even for an endangered bird – can be an active and engaged phase of life.

AP Video shot by Rodrique Ngowi.