on July 17, 2013
It’s a girl!
On Wednesday, Camden’s Adventure Aquarium held a gender reveal party for Casanova, the African Blackfooted penguin hatched there on Jan. 11.
Casanova’s mother Kali announced the news by “feet painting” a pure white canvas with bright pink paint indicating her 6-month-old is a little girl.
“Our penguins are excellent painters,” said biologist Kate Budion who was emceeing the reveal ceremony.
Biologist Jennifer Hutchins said a small blood sample was taken from the penguin and sent to a genetics lab where her gender was determined.
The only way to determine the sex of a penguin is through a blood test.
“We got just what we wanted — a healthy bird,” Hutchins said. “Now we have an even number of boys and girls in the colony.”
Cassie lives most of her time in the outdoor Penguin Island attraction at the aquarium and very much enjoys swimming. (Be sure to watch the video of her keeping cool in the pool!)
“She spends a lot of time in the water,” Hutchins said. “She feels safe and comfortable in there.”
And the “not-a-chick-anymore-but-not-full-grown” juvenile penguin has developed quite a personality.
When Hutchins was trying to coax Cassie out of the pool for her big gender reveal party, the bird swam just outside her reach, and even dove under water to avoid Hutchins’ grasp.
“Normally she comes to me when there’s food involved,” Hutchins said.
Perhaps Cassie was showing off for her legions of fans who showed up for the announcement.
Visitors can see Cassie, her parents and the entire colony at Penguin Island daily at Adventure Aquarium.
During July and August, the aquarium is offering extended hours until 7 p.m. every weekend.
For more information, call 856-365-3300 or visit www.adventureaquarium.com, and follow Cassie’s journey on the aquarium’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
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