First Penguin Chick Hatches at Little Rock Zoo
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 21, 2012
The Little Rock Zoo has marked another milestone by welcoming its first penguin chick.
The chick was hatched on October 30th. It's not yet known if the chick is a boy or girl and it's not yet been named.
Penguin parents Skipper and Easy are taking good care of their little one, keeping the chick warm and feeding it regurgitated fish, say zoo staff, who have been keeping a close eye on the growing family. They describe the chick as healthy and say it's eating well.
The chick will not be seen in the exhibit until it is weaned at about 70 days old or if the parents allow it to wander out of the nest box.
Zoo staff say the chick is growing fast and is of normal weight for its age. Two days after hatching, the chick (photo above) weighed in at only about one-tenth of a pound. As of yesterday, just three weeks later, the chick (photo below) now weighs about two pounds. The chick will continue to gain weight until it is full grown at around seven and-a-half pounds.
The hatching of this chick was at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the African penguin to ensure the long-term survival of endangered and threatened animals.
The chick was hatched on October 30th. It's not yet known if the chick is a boy or girl and it's not yet been named.
Penguin parents Skipper and Easy are taking good care of their little one, keeping the chick warm and feeding it regurgitated fish, say zoo staff, who have been keeping a close eye on the growing family. They describe the chick as healthy and say it's eating well.
The chick will not be seen in the exhibit until it is weaned at about 70 days old or if the parents allow it to wander out of the nest box.
Zoo staff say the chick is growing fast and is of normal weight for its age. Two days after hatching, the chick (photo above) weighed in at only about one-tenth of a pound. As of yesterday, just three weeks later, the chick (photo below) now weighs about two pounds. The chick will continue to gain weight until it is full grown at around seven and-a-half pounds.
The hatching of this chick was at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the African penguin to ensure the long-term survival of endangered and threatened animals.
Penguin chick at three weeks old
