Humboldt penguins born at Calgary Zoo
Babies' genders still unknown
A trio of fuzzy baby penguins has recently hatched at the Calgary Zoo.
The unnamed chicks round out the Penguin Plunge Humboldt colony to an even 20 strong.
"These spring chicks are a happy addition to our colony, and for the Humboldt species," said Malu Celli, curator at the zoo.
- Chick #1 hatched May 14 to parents Estaban and Karina.
- Chick #2 hatched May 16 to parents Horatio and Sophie.
- Chick #3 hatched May 31 to parents Santiago and Juanita.
The zoo's announcement Wednesday coincides with World Ocean's Day.
"Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and are part of the zoo's Species Survival Plan," Celli said.
Second successful round of births
Two of the three chicks have had their health checks, but the babies' genders are still unknown.
All three babies are nestled in with their parents in the outdoor burrows of their zoo habitat.
These three births mark the second successful hatching of Humboldt penguin chicks at the zoo since Penguin Plunge opened in 2012.
The first Humboldt penguin chick, Emilio, hatched on June 27, 2015, to first time parents, Javier and Reina.
The births come after several penguin deaths at the zoo in 2013.
