Maryland Zoo penguin who helped rebuild the species' population has died leaving 230 descendants

It takes a village to raise a child - but apparently, only one penguin to create the village. Maryland Zoo's "Mr. Greedy" died this week after fathering 230 penguins and helping rebuild the species' population in zoos across North America, officials said in a news statement. 

At 33 years old, "Mr. Greedy," was the oldest penguin at the zoo far surpassing the average penguin age of 18 years old. He lived to see five generations of offspring fathered through the zoo's African Penguin Species Survival Plan.

"This one bird was incredibly important to the continued existence of African penguins throughout the world," Jen Kottyan, Maryland Zoo's bird curator said. "It's tough to lose an animal who has been such a welcome presence at our Zoo for three decades, but all of us are proud that he is survived by five generations of offspring."