Endangered penguin chicks hatch at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Published  May 14, 2015

MONTEREY, Calif. —On this 10th-anniversary of Endangered Species Day, the Monterey Bay Aquarium was celebrating the birth of two endangered African blackfooted penguin chicks.

The chicks hatched last week and the aquarium described them on Friday as "fragile fluff balls."
Also on Friday, the Monterey Bay Aquarium joined with the American Zoological Association to launch a new initiative: AZA Saving Animals From Extinction.

The aquarium is currently featuring endangered animals that it is working to save. In public presentations and in conversations with visitors, the aquarium will highlight threats of extinction that many species face in the wild – and that together we can turn things around.

"We don’t like to think about it, but some of our favorite marine animals, like sea otters and sharks, are endangered in the wild," Cynthia Vernon of the Monterey Bay Aquarium said. "This is a day to reflect on what it would be like if they were no longer part of our world, but also to think about the positive actions we can take to ensure their long term success. We hope visitors to the aquarium will support our work with other accredited aquariums and zoos to save animals from extinction."


For decades, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums have been leaders in species survival. AZA has already helped restore more than 30 species to healthy wild populations, including the American bison, the California condor and a variety of aquatic species.

Through SAFE, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums will convene scientists and stakeholders globally to identify the factors that threaten many species. They will then develop conservation action plans, collect new resources and engage the public.

In 2015, SAFE will focus on ten species. An additional 10 species will be added to the list each year for the next ten years. Of the first 10 species that are the focus of AZA SAFE, the Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibits and works to protect several: sea turtles, African penguins, and all species of sharks.

"AZA aquarium and zoo conservationists have identified more than 100 species facing the greatest threats and where accredited zoos and aquariums have unique conservation and science knowledge to contribute," AZA President Jim Maddy said. "Today, we’re demonstrating just how profound the loss would be if we don’t take action now to protect wildlife. More important, we are also explaining to the public just what AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are doing to save animals from extinction."

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also actively involved in conservation efforts that benefit many other species, including Pacific bluefin tuna, great white sharks, and Western snowy plovers.

Help Save Animals from Extinction

One of the easiest conservation actions the public can take is to visit Monterey Bay Aquarium and other AZA accredited partners. Doing so directly supports the collaborative efforts of hundreds of researchers, field conservationists and scientists from AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums working to save animals from extinction.

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