Audubon Aquarium Name Penguin Chick

Meet Titan, the newest addition to the African penguin colony at the Audubon Aquarium. Keepers have been caring for the chick since he hatched on February 10th and this week they announced his name.

Raising a penguin chick is hard work. Keepers at the aquarium have experienced late nights as they provide Titan with his round-the-clock feedings. In recent weeks some of this work has begun to ease up as he begins to eat whole fish like an adult penguin. His preferred fish is herring but he will also consume capelin if it is offered.

Titan was hatched to experienced parents, Ocio and Humbug, who have previously raised two chicks. Their first, Zion, was recently relocated to another colony at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, while Moon remains in the Audubon colony. Titan's name was selected as Titan, a moon of Saturn is the only place in the solar system, besides Earth, where liquids in the form of lakes and rivers are found.

“African penguins like Titan are endangered and part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan,” said Bill Robles, Audubon Aquarium curator of birds. “As part of the plan to help save this species from extinction, we work with other accredited zoos and aquariums to follow strict breeding guidelines to ensure valuable genetics are passed on to our penguin chicks and protect the birds in our care.”

For Titan his next big adventure will be learning to swim. Once he masters swimming he will be able to join the rest of the colony at the Audubon Aquarium.

Guests returning to the Audubon Aquarium when it reopens after its major reimagining next month may meet Titan. He can be identified among the colony due to his charcoal feathers. He will develop the black and white feathers of an adult early next year.