Moody Gardens welcomes 3 penguin chicks

All images by JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News
Three Gentoo penguin chicks have hatched at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The first chick, pictured with dad Stimpy, hatched Nov. 22.

Three Gentoo penguin chicks huddle together after their daily weigh-in Friday at the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid in Galveston. The chicks mark the eighth straight year Moody has successfully bred Gentoo penguins in the South Atlantic exhibit.

Hector Moral, a biologist at Moody Gardens, carries two Gentoo penguin chicks to be weighed Friday at the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid. The newest chick, left, hatched Dec. 2, and the other chick pictured hatched Nov. 24.

Posted: Friday, December 7, 2012 \

By JENNIFER REYNOLDS

 

GALVESTON — Three Gentoo penguin chicks have hatched at Moody Gardens in Galveston.
The first chick hatched Nov. 22 to penguin parents dad, Stimpy, and mom, Porky. It now weighs 970 grams. The pair hatched a second chick two days later and it now weighs 672 grams. The newest chick, weighing just 221 grams, hatched Dec. 2, to penguin mom, Ren, and dad, Garfield.

Adult Gentoo Penguins have distinctive white patches above the eye area and white speckling in the adjacent black plumage around their heads. They also have yellow feet, making them unique in the Moody Gardens collection.

The Gentoo penguins are the first chicks of the season. Diane Olsen, assistant curator at Moody Gardens, said she hopes to see new King and Chinstrap penguins this season as well.

The fuzzy, little chicks can be seen on exhibit with the other Moody Gardens penguins. The public can watch the penguins the Aquarium Pyramid or on the Live Penguin Cam at www.moodygardens.com/penguincam2.ht

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