The United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo announced the birth of 10 Humboldt penguins and one has two dads…
There is a new gay family in the United Kingdom that we are obsessing over! And they’re not even human.
Chester Zoo, about three hours from London, just announced the birth of 10 Humboldt penguins. The chicks, born in April, are causing excitement among zoo officials. Not only are they one of the largest group of newborns, but one chick is being raised by a same-sex penguin couple named Scampi and Flounder.
The egg, originally from couple Wotsit and Peach, was given to the gay penguins by zoo experts. Officials did this to give the chick the “best possible start” and to help “improve chances of successful fledging.”
The same-sex pair are excelling at being first time parents according to the zoo, taking on feeding duties for the young chick. According to its website, the penguin families are provided with extra fish which the adults “swallow, blend into a protein-rich soup and regurgitate” before feeding to the chicks.
Now, the chicks are days away from taking their first swimming lessons! A milestone moment we hope the zoo captures for social media.
Why are these 10 chicks so significant?
Humboldt penguins are the most vulnerable of the 17 penguin species and are close to being declared endangered. Chester Zoo’s penguin team manager, Zoe Sweetman, said the births are “fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding program.” The zoo has deemed it a “bumper year” for the species, due to the large number of chicks born.
Located in the wild on the coasts of Peru and Chile, the population has seen an 85 per cent decline in the last 40 years. This is largely due to the overfishing of anchovies, their main food source. Other factors include various diseases (avian flu), humans removing guano (bird poop used to make nests), oil spills, changing ocean currents, rising water temperatures and more. Just over 23,000 Humboldt penguins live in the wild today.
What are Humboldt penguins?
The South American penguins are social creatures who live in large colonies. Their habitats are typically cliffs, caverns and beaches.
They grow to be about 2 feet tall and weigh between 6 and 13 lbs. In the wild their lifespan can be between 12 and 15 years. They can live to be 20 years old if cared for by humans in zoos.
Some people call them ‘blushing penguins,’ due to the bare skin by their beaks. When they get too hot, their skin turns a pinkish colour to help them cool down.
Their black and white feathers provide a two-toned countershading effect – a type of camouflage – to keep them safe. The black feathers on their back help them blend in the ocean when seen from above or in dark waters. Their front white feathers help them camouflage with light-coloured surfaces.
Help name the chicks!
In celebration of the newborns, Chester Zoo is carrying on a tradition by asking the public to help name two of the babies. The zoo is inviting people to suggest names related to constellations and celestial wonders. On Instagram, the zoo has received over 400 suggestions like Galaxy, Astra, Nova, Luna, Leo, Atlas and more.
The eight names given by zoo staff include Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena.
If you could name these two penguins, what would it be?
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