African penguin swimming lessons

By Abigail Pheiffer
Publication: theday.com

04/21/2011

Abigail Pheiffer/The Day

 

Tracy Camp praises two young African penguins named Blue Silver, left, and Blue Brown, after they took their first swim in the penguin exhibit at the Mystic Aquarium on Thursday, April 21, 2011. An adult penguin watches from its perch on the rock. Blue Silver, who still has some juvenile down feathers, hatched on February 3 and is 78 days old. Blue Brown hatched on January 20 and is 91 days old.

Abigail Pheiffer/The Day

Tracy Camp praises two young African penguins named Blue Silver, left, and Blue Brown, after they took their first swim in the penguin exhibit at the Mystic Aquarium on Thursday, April 21, 2011. An adult penguin watches from its perch on the rock. Blue Silver, who still has some juvenile down feathers, hatched on February 3 and is 78 days old. Blue Brown hatched on January 20 and is 91 days old.

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Mystic - Tracy Camp praised two young African penguins, named Blue Silver and Blue Brown, after they took their first swim in the penguin exhibit at the Mystic Aquarium Thursday.


Blue Silver, who still has some juvenile down feathers, hatched on Feb. 3 and is 78 days old. Blue Brown hatched on Jan. 20 and is 91 days old. Both penguins are part of the Species Survival Plan, a breeding program that ensures genetic diversity and stability of animals in zoos and aquariums.


African penguins were added to the United States list of endangered species in the fall of 2010. The worldwide population of African penguins has declined 60% in the past 8 years.

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