New King penguin born at Moody Gardens

The newest King penguin at  Moody Gardens, born this month, is the 14th of the  ice-loving species bred on Galveston Island since 2003.

The penguin was born on April 9 in Galveston, weighing 198 grams at birth. It  will join its  father Petty and mother Chilly Willy and 31 other King penguins at one of the complex’s  most popular exhibits at the Aquarium Pyramid, said a Moody Gardens spokeswoman Jerri Hamachek.

The bird weighed 598 grams Monday or about 1.3 pounds.  Fully grown, a King penguin averages about 35 pounds and is 36 inches tall.

In two to three months, a blood test will be conducted to determine the gender of the bird and it will then be named. Many of the king penguins are named after sports figures. Petty is named for NASCAR driver Richard Petty, for example. The rock hopper penguins are named after rock stars and macaroni penguins are named after different kinds of cheese.

There have been 14 King penguins hatched on Galveston Island.  In 1998, staff members from the aquarium went on an expedition to South Georgia Island with other scientists from around the world and brought back the original eggs.  Since then, the aquarium has bred King penguins and had an exchange program with the Association of  Zoos and Aquariums to trade King penguins for other species. The aquarium has six different species of penguins.

“Out of all the attractions that we have here the aquarium is the most popular,” Hamachek said. “Out of the aquarium exhibits, penguins are the most popular. They are active and fun birds to watch.”
Another king penguin was born in February. Hamachek said no other King penguins will be born for the rest of the season, which lasts between winter and early spring.

The two newest  chicks and other penguins are on display at the Aquarium Pyramid at Moody Gardens. The public can also view the penguins on the Penguin Cam.

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