Penguin Chick Hatches at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: March 10, 2021 10:45 am

An African penguin chick has hatched at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Photo Credit: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, USA celebrated the hatching of an endangered African penguin chick on February 12th 2021. This is the 56th chick to be born at the aquarium since 1991.

This chick was welcomed to parents Hubig and Ocio. They also welcomed chick, Zion last year.

“We are very excited to welcome this chick to our African penguin colony,” said Audubon Aquarium’s Curator of Birds William Robles. “Each new chick hatched at the Aquarium plays an integral part in keeping this endangered species thriving and educating guests about the threats that their counterparts face in the wild.”  

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The chick was incubated by its parent and hatched after 37 days. Soon after hatching the aviculture team at the aquarium completed a thorough health check on the chick and monitored it to ensure it was feed by the parents using a camera in the nest.

For its first 21 days the chick was cared for by its parents but it is now being hand-reared by keepers so it can settle in to the aquarium’s daily care procedures. This will continue for two months in a behind-the-scenes area after which the chick will be reintroduced to the colony.

An African penguin chick has hatched at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Photo Credit: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas were recommended to breed Hubig and Ocio by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan as they have strong genetic compatibility.

The aquarium is founding member of the AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program which used the expertise at AZA accredited facilities to save endangered animals.

In the wild African penguin numbers have decreased from 141,000 breeding pairs in 1956 to just 25,000 today.

AZA zoos are working to restore their numbers through constructing artificial nests and improving oil spill response protocols. They also educate guests who visit the ambassador populations held at the zoos and aquariums.

An African penguin chick has hatched at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Photo Credit: Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Learn more about African penguins here – African penguin Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas on their website – Audubon Aquarium of the Americas