Endangered African penguin chick hatches at Idaho Falls Zoo

An endangered African penguin chick has hatched at the Idaho Falls Zoo.

This is the first chick to hatch at the zoo since 2016.

“As African penguins are endangered, the chick is an important ambassador for the conservation of its species,” says Zoo Director David Pennock.

Zoo officials say the penguin’s gender is not yet known.

The chick hatched on June 28 and is now being hand-raised by animal care staff in the penguin building.

For the first three weeks, the penguin chick was cared for by its parents. Now the keepers brought the chick into the penguin building where zoo representatives feed and care for it until the penguin has grown enough to rejoin the colony.

The human contact helps ensure as the birds grow they will be comfortable around people as adults.

A good comfort level around humans is important as it makes it possible for their keepers to hand feed them twice daily and provide all their medical care needs.

The chick is the result of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP).