Penguins arrive at The Deep

The Deep in Hull is getting ready to show off its latest arrivals - ten Gentoo penguins (six adults and four juveniles) who have taken up residence in a new exhibit called 'The Penguins of Grytviken'. The first five birds are now in residence.

The £750,000 exhibit opens to the public today and will give visitors views of the penguins across three floors, both underwater and on land. Features include a swimming pool, diving pool, beach area, nesting area and the penguins very own outdoor balcony with views overlooking the River Humber.

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Monday 3^rd March 2014

We all know penguins don't fly - unless they're on a plane, that is!

Five Gentoo penguins have been flown all the way from Texas in America to a new home in Hull, England.
These birds were born in captivity and they've come over to join a European breeding programme, which aims to help protect the species.
Their new living area at The Deep Aquarium has three levels and includes a diving pool, beach, nesting area and even an outdoor balcony overlooking the River Humber!
And if you want to find out more of those penguins and live in the Yorkshire and Humberside area then tune in to BBC1 at 7.30pm on March 3rd 2014.

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Mon 3 Mar 2014

Fact files: 12 facts about Gentoo penguins

A gentoo penguin propelling itself out of the water. Credit: The Deep/James Denman

:: Gentoo penguins are the third largest penguin species reaching 80cm and up to 8kg when fully grown.
:: They are listed as 'near threatened' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species.
:: It is estimated there are 387,000 breeding pairs.
:: The gentoo penguins are found on the islands around the Antarctic and Sub Antarctic and on the Antarctic Peninsula including the Falklands.
:: Gentoos spend most of their time preening to maintain the oily condition of their feathers.
:: They can breed from as young as 1 year old.
:: Gentoos tend to nest on flat, low-lying beaches gathering up to 1700 stones to build it.
:: They lay a clutch of two eggs at a time, usually two to four days apart.
:: During incubation the parents take turns to sit on the nest while the other collects food.
:: Adult penguins moult once a year.
:: While moulting the penguins cannot go to sea to find food and they look scruffy as all their feathers drop out.
:: Penguins are vulnerable to disturbance by tourism and oil spills, climate change and fishing.

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