Look at This Chick!

Penguin baby boom under way at Moody Gardens with arrival of first chick

Credit: Moody Gardens

by khou.com staff

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 2:57 PM

GALVESTON, Texas—The staff at Moody Gardens got an early Christmas present in the South Atlantic exhibit this week. A Gentoo penguin chick was born Monday morning, kicking off what’s expected to be a penguin baby boom. A record 24 penguin eggs were laid at Moody Gardens this year.

"Our penguins are having a great year for breeding, and we are excited to see what we come up with by the end of the season," said Diane Olsen, assistant curator. "The first penguin of the season is always precious and treasured, and this one is no exception."

The chick was born to parents Wiley and Marvin at a healthy weight of 94 grams. Its gender still isn’t known.
The chick will become full-grown in about eight weeks.

Of the 23 penguin eggs remaining, seven are Chinstrap penguins. Moody Gardens biologists are hoping those eggs will result in the first Chinstrap penguins to be born at Moody Gardens.

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