Three New Penguin Chicks Arrive At The Maryland Zoo

3 years ago 344

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Three caller penguin chicks person arrived astatine the Maryland Zoo.

The chicks hatched successful October and are the archetypal caller arrivals of the 2021-2022 breeding play for the flightless birds astatine the Penguin Coast exhibit, the zoo announced Friday.

“What a invited mode to commencement our 54th twelvemonth moving with African penguins. We are ever excited to ticker the colony grow, and blessed to denote that 3 chicks person hatched already this breeding season,” said Jen Kottyan, avian postulation and conservation manager. “We expect to hatch 10 chicks during this breeding season, but of people that is each babelike connected the penguins.”

Penguin chicks hatch astir 40 days aft eggs are laid. Traditionally, African penguins mate during the outpouring play successful South Africa, which is taking spot close now, the zoo said.

“Although it is autumn here, we similar to mimic the breeding play truthful we tin show the chicks arsenic they hatch and turn during our winter, and past they marque their debut arsenic juveniles erstwhile temperatures lukewarm up successful April,” Kottyan said.

Breeding play for African penguins runs from September to February, the zoo said.

For the archetypal 3 weeks aft they’re born, the chicks astatine the zoo enactment with their parents, who provender regurgitated food to their young. Staffers volition measurement and measurement the newborn penguins to marque definite they’re processing properly.

At the three-week mark, the juvenile penguins are removed from their parents and taught to get nutrient connected their own.

“This measurement is captious arsenic it volition let unit to supply agelong word attraction for the birds including regular feeding, regular wellness exams and some regular and exigency aesculapian care,” the zoo said successful a quality release.

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While the chicks statesman beingness covered successful acheronian grey downy feathers and astir the size of a quality palm, they turn to afloat size, astir six pounds, successful 3 months, the zoo said.