A zoo in the Bay Area is excited about the birth of its first Magellanic penguin chicks in several years. Zoo officials have stated that these little penguins will be hand-raised to improve their chances of thriving.
Recently, San Francisco Zoo shared news of the hatching of three chicks who are reportedly growing well underwater. A video from the zoo’s Facebook page captured adorable moments as the four-week-old chicks made their calls in the nursery.
In the video, a red light can be seen, but zoo staff reassured viewers that it’s just a heat lamp used to keep the chicks warm while their feathers develop.
As the young penguins grow, the heat lamps will be gradually adjusted to cool down the nursery. This is part of helping them adapt to outdoor living, particularly with warmer weather coming up later this summer.
The video’s visuals also included a cozy setup for the chicks, featuring rolled-up towels and an oversized stuffed penguin to help prepare them for life outside.
Since the chicks hatched in mid-May, zoo staff have been devotedly caring for them nearly around the clock.
The decision to hand-raise the chicks stemmed from concerns that some potential parents lacked the necessary experience. Bryce Smith, the assistant curator of birds at the zoo, explained that it’s been quite a few years since they had chicks, and the staff felt hand-rearing was the best approach at this time.
Prior to these hatchings, the zoo had seen numbers ranging from two to five chicks each year since the 1980s. Quinn Brown, the curator, noted that breeding had been halted for a period due to the age of some animals, but the passing of older individuals allowed the process to restart.
Brown mentioned the strategic nature of breeding at the zoo. Some pairs were very successful, while others were not cleared for breeding due to genetic concerns.
Zoo officials claim that the Magellanic penguins at the SF Zoo represent the “most successful breeding colony” within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
While visitors are eager to see the new chicks, they will initially remain away from public view as they grow. Smith mentioned that, once they are a bit older, the chicks will begin learning how to swim.
Zoo officials anticipate that the first public viewing will occur later this summer during an event known as the March at the penguins’ outdoor habitat, which houses the largest collection of flightless penguins in North America.
