Penguin chick hatched at Monterey Bay Aquarium

January 11, 2011

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's first African blackfooted penguin chick hatched Saturday in the popular "Splash Zone: Ocean Homes" family gallery.

The chick, whose gender is unknown, hatched to parents Umngane and Dassen in the penguin exhibit in "Splash Zone."
The chick is vocalizing and appears to be doing well, said Aimee Greenebaum, associate curator of aviculture. "We're very excited to welcome our first penguin chick," she said. "It's great to have a baby around."
But protective parents and a high nesting site inside the exhibit unfortunately mean that visitors are unlikely to see the chick.
During a quick exam Monday, the chick weighed approximately 4.2 ounces, nearly double what it weighed Saturday, Greenebaum said. "That weight gain means the first-time parents are feeding it regularly," she said.

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