Penguin production line

By Ross Findon

Friday, March 29, 2013

 

The baby Humboldt penguins, which have been hatched at Seaview Wildlife Encounter and are bound for Longleat Safari Park.

A PARTNERSHIP between an Island wildlife park and the world-famous Longleat Safari Park has continued this year.
Following a successful first year, Seaview Wildlife Encounter has again been asked to help with Longleat’s penguin exhibition, which it opened last year.
Seaview Wildlife Encounter director Lorraine Adams said they were anticipating another successful breeding season for their popular Humboldt penguins, with plans to send more chicks to Longleat.

Last year 18 chicks made the journey from the Island to Longleat. Lorraine said: "The penguin egg assembly line has started in earnest with eight eggs laid and an estimated 12 more possible pairs successfully producing two fertile eggs each. "Hatching will start around the beginning of April and into early May. The chicks will be hand-reared in their early days at Seaview and then moved to Longleat, where its keepers will take over the responsibility of rearing these precious penguins."

Pictures show the penguin hatching from the egg and being small enough to hold in the palm of the hand.

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