Penguin Chick Hatches at Adelaide Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 8, 2021 9:59 pm

The little penguin chick in its behind the scenes area at Adelaide Zoo

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

The little penguin family at Adelaide Zoo has grown with the addition of an eight week old chick currently being care for behind the scenes. Keepers have yet to determine the gender of the chick.

Keepers will need to wait for a special test to find out the gender as keeper Amelia Kennett explained, “To determine its gender we need to send some of its feathers off for analysis. We can also get a rough idea by using a beak measuring tool.

Born on July 8th to mom Shuffles and dad Cashew the chick is currently weighing in at 1.08kg (2.4lbs).

The little penguin chick with a keeper in its behind the scenes area at Adelaide Zoo

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

“This little one is eating lots of fish every day,” says keeper Amelia Kennett.

“This is the first chick of the season,” Amelia continued, “and we hope that there will be more as spring starts to kick in.”

“Even though the chick is younger than its fellow colony members, it is considerably larger; the down feathers add an extra layer of fluff compared to its parents.

“Around 11 weeks old, the chick will have replaced its down feathers with waterproof ones and will be introduced to the colony and ready to swim in the pool,” finished Amelia.

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The latest arrival brings the penguin colony at Adelaide Zoo to 23 members. Keepers will choose a name for the chick after the results of the gender test are returned.

Little penguins are known by a range of alternative names including fairy and blue penguins. They stand up to 30cm (12in).

The colony at Adelaide Zoo act as ambassadors for their threatened species encouraging visitors to keep their dog on a lead near penguin colonies and properly discarding any rubbish you to take the rubbish.