Record year delivers 'Penguins a plenty' at Omaha zoo

by CBS News

Posted on January 16, 2010

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Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo welcomes five Gentoo penguin chicks, on display in the Scott Aquarium.
Zoo officials say the chicks hatched between December 10 and 21st and are all being cared for by their parents on display. 2009 was a record year for the number of eggs laid and survivability of the chicks.
The latest additions mean that there have been 27 Gentoo penguins hatched at Omaha's Zoo since 1999, meaning there are 'penguins-a-plenty' at the Aquarium. The zoo now has 32 Gentoo's, 29 Rockhoppers, 24 King and one Macaroni penguin. It also has warm weather little blue penguins.

More on the Gentoo:

Gentoo penguins originate from Antarctica and sub-Antarctic island. Gentoo's lay two eggs in a nest and the parents take turns lying on the eggs. They have a shade of black and white down feathers until they reach six to nine months. At this time, they will lose the down and it be replaced with feathers. Once the chicks have their feathers, they are able to swim. Their diet at Omaha's Zoo consists of fish creel, mostly capelin and herring and the chicks are feed by the parents.

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