JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has released photos of a Magellanic penguin chick that hatched at the zoo on Aug 20.
This is the first time a penguin hatched at the zoo since the opening of the Tuxedo Coast exhibit in March 2010, and its sex is unknown at this time.
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The egg was artificially incubated. The penguin was introduced to the parents shortly after hatching. Due to the newness of the experience, the parents were not responsive to the chick and it was removed to be hand-reared by zoo staff.
"We are so excited to have a penguin chick," said Gen Darnell, bird supervisor at JZG. "We have been working hard over the last few years to set our penguins up for successful nesting and breeding. Our patience has paid off, and we can't wait to share the chick with our guests!"
Magellanic penguins are native to the southern coast of South America where they gather in large nesting colonies. They are monogamous, mating with the same partner year after year, and are listed as near-threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The chick is still being cared for by zoo staff. It's not yet known when the chick will make its first public appearance.