Gentoo Penguin Chicks Hatch at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's

Gentoo Penguin Chicks Hatch at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 3, 2020 10:50 pm

gentoo penguin chicks SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's

A gentoo penguin chick with its parent at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

The only subantarctic penguin colony in New Zealand has grown by two members with a pair of gentoo penguin chicks hatching. These chicks hatched last month and can now be seen nesting under their parents on the ice at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium.

A gentoo penguin chick with its parent at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

After hatching on November 4th 2020 the chicks have been being cared for under the watchful eye of their parents. While the two chicks hatched close to one another one weighs 2500g (5.5lbs) and the other weighs just 1600g (3.5lbs). Keepers shared that often this means the larger one will be a male and the smaller one will be a female.

A gentoo penguin chick at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

“We’ve had two wee Gentoo chicks hatch and are totally enamoured with our latest arrivals. We haven’t decided on names yet as we are waiting for their little personalities to start shining through,” said Laura Seaman, Penguin Team Leader at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s.

“The larger chick is being raised by first time parents Humphrey and Myrtle, who have been doing an excellent job, which is lovely to see. The smaller chick is being raised by seasoned parents Tua and Al, who have parenting down pat.”

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Gentoo penguins are the third largest penguin species. Soon these chicks will fledge and begin to learn how to swim.