Chester Zoo’s adorable class of 2013 starts penguin crèche

Tuesday 24 Sept. 2013

Thrown in at the deep end: The penguins have moved into a nursery pool (Picture: Chester Zoo)

It’s time for Chester Zoo’s class of 2013 to learn some penguin basics.

With children across the country back at school after the summer break, some of the zoo’s youngsters have also just started at its crèche.

The five Humboldt penguins, born in spring, have moved into a nursery pool where they will learn how to swim, hunt and feed in water.

‘The chicks, which are the penguin equivalent of toddlers, have settled into our penguin crèche really well indeed,’ explained lead keeper Anne Morris.

Lead keeper Anne Morris with penguin chick Sonic (Picture: Chester Zoo)

‘They quickly figure out how to take fish from our keepers and are now no longer relying on regurgitated food from mum and dad.’

She added: ’It’s all part of their education and really helps to build up their confidence.
‘All five of the chicks are coming along nicely and it shouldn’t be too long until they all “graduate” and join the rest of the colony in our main pool.’

Chester Zoo’s penguin class of 2013 (Penguin: Chester Zoo)

The baby penguins have been named after characters from hit TV show Dr Who, with Dalek, Tardis and Gallifrey all showing a ‘great appetite’ for learning.

Chester Zoo funds conservation initiatives in the penguins’ homeland to help them in their natural habitat.


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