Thursday, October 6, 2011

Feisty penguin chick debuts at Jurong Bird Park


Less than a year after moving to the Jurong Bird Park, a pair of African penguins are proud parents of a feisty penguin chick.
The couple, who were originally residents of Singapore Zoo, started breeding and nesting soon after relocating to their new home.
The chick was hatched on August 22, 2011 and at just 10 days old, weighed 425g.
According to the Jurong Bird Park, this is a desirable weight for an African penguin hatchling.
"We are delighted to welcome Bird Park's first African penguin chick. Birds normally breed when they feel safe, happy and secure in their environment.
"Although the penguins have been here for only nine months, they have already acclimatised to their new environment under the watchful eye of the keepers. The hatchling is the first for the five-year-old female penguin, Mate," said Mr Raja Segran, General Manager at the Jurong Bird Park.
"While Mate and the male African penguin, Captain, have very good chemistry, they required some help from our keepers when it came to nesting at their new home at the Park."
As part of the husbandry procedures in the Bird Park, avian keepers provided sand and hay as nesting materials to encourage them to breed.
Diet also plays an important part, and all the above, coupled with tender loving care from the keepers, were key in making the African penguins feel comfortable and secure to engage in breeding.

 source

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