The blessing of the baby penguin

A four-month-old Humboldt penguin named Kaya is blessed by a Catholic...

A four-month-old Humboldt penguin named Kaya is blessed by a Catholic...

A four-month-old Humboldt penguin named Kaya is blessed by a Catholic...

A four-month-old Humboldt penguin named Kaya is blessed by a Catholic...

 

October 29, 2014

 

MANILA — Roman Catholic priest Jacob Gomes blessed a four-month-old Humboldt penguin before it took its first swim at the Manila Ocean Park in the Philippines today (Oct 29). The park launched its baby penguin attraction today and announced the winner of a contest to choose the baby’s name, Kaya, meaning competence or ability in Tagalog.

Before the penguin’s first swim, it was placed in one side of a pool, separated from its penguin parents by a net. During the blessing, the priest stressed the importance of environmental conservation and the need for people to protect all species of marine life, which are “a creation of God”. Kaya was born July 8 and is the first penguin to be born in the country. Its gender is not yet known.

AP

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