Born in Ballaugh: Baby Penguin Thrives at Wildlife Park

Date Posted: 14/08/2009 17:01:00
Posted By: Liz Corlett


Born in Ballaugh: Baby Penguin Thrives at Wildlife Park

Visitors to Curraghs Wildlife Park today (Friday 14th August) were treated to views of the latest arrival, a Humboldt penguin chick, hatched on 15th June this year.

Richard Halsall, Animal Manager at the Curraghs Wildlife Park, said, “This is the first penguin chick we have had in many years at the Park.

"Although we think the chick is now too big to fall victim to a seagull or heron, we’re not out of the woods yet and we’ll have to teach it to take sprats from us when the parents stop feeding it.

"It’s always a great pleasure to see new young animals at the Wildlife Park and all the staff are thrilled at this latest success.”

The Humboldt penguins’ exhibit is located in the Pampas area, one of seven geographical areas represented at the park. Humboldt Penguins rear their chicks in burrows and they don’t begin to wander around outside until they are about 6 to 8 weeks old.

Wildlife Park General Manager, Mr Nick Pinder, commented, “It is anticipated that as the chick gains in confidence it will spend more and more time outside its burrow, allowing the Wildlife Park’s many visitors, residents and holiday-makers alike, to get excellent views.

"We’ll start supplementary feeding soon but outside the advertised hours for the public feeding of the penguins so that we do not upset them.”

If you would like to see the new penguin chick for yourself, Curraghs Wildlife Park is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Source:
http://www.isleofman.com/news/article.aspx?article=18517&area=2