Photos by Asia Morris.
It was a red carpet event at the Aquarium of the Pacific this morning, as the two penguin chicks that hatched in May joined the rest of their family and friends in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat.
Parents of the chick who hatched on May 17, Kate and Avery, and parents of the babe who hatched on May 25, Patsy and Robbie, took care of their baby penguins for about a month before they were sent behind-the-scenes to learn how to take whole fish from feeders and swim in shallow pools.
The chicks were cared for in the nursery until they fledged, which takes place approximately three months after hatching, then reintroduced to their family this morning.
The two chicks are the fourth generation of penguins born in the aquarium. Parents Kate, Avery and Robbie are Brazilian rescue birds and part of a group of hundreds of penguins found stranded off the coast near Rio in 2011. Magellanic Penguins are native to the coasts of Argentina and Chile in South America.
“They were deemed unreleasable, and we were able to give them a home and start off our colony,” said Sara Mandel, penguin expert. “As a result of that, Kate and Avery, they paired up and it’s really cool because this is their second chick.”
The aquarium has yet to name the young penguins and is giving that opportunity to participants of its Adopt an Animal program. Those who adopt a penguin chick at the $100 level or higher before Friday, September 30, will receive two tickets to the aquarium and the chance to suggest a name for the chick.
The winner will be chosen by the aquarium and will be able to participate in a feeding and training session with the penguins. The money raised during the adoption program goes to providing care for the animals.
For more information about the Adopt an Animal program, click here.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way.
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