Month: May 2023

Edinburgh Zoo welcomes first penguin chick of 2023 and it’s a cutie News Briefing

Edinburgh Zoo welcomes first penguin chick of 2023 and it’s a cutie

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When stories about the cost of living crisis and other tough subjects are getting you down, at least you can rely on pictures of baby animals to cheer you up.

Edinburgh Zoo is celebrating today as it announced the arrival of its first penguin chick of the year – an endangered northern rockhopper.

The marine birds start out looking much less sleek than their parents due to their baby feathers, meaning this little one appears even more fluffy and adorable.

The new arrival, which hasn’t been named by zookeepers yet, hatched on April 26 and is the first to arrive this breeding season.

Michael Livingstone, senior keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: ‘Northern rockhopper penguins are endangered due to climate change, changes in marine ecosystems and overfishing, so it is really exciting to welcome a new chick.

‘The first 30 days are critical for their development, so we will be keeping a close eye on the youngster at this sensitive time.’

The zoo, which is also home to king and gentoo penguins, has worked to protect the northern rockhopper for many years.

They’re one of the smaller penguin species, growing to about 50cm in height, and their red eyes, orange beak, pink feet and yellow and black feathers on their heads help them stand out.

It’s so cute! (Picture: Edinburgh Zoo)

Baby rockhoppers aren’t born with the orange beak or yellow feathers – the colour develops as they age.

As they normally live in harsh, rocky environments, rockhoppers can’t slide on their bellies like other penguins so they hop from one place to another – hence their name.

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Even though the rockhopper is one of the world’s most numerous penguin populations, their population has declined by 30% in the last 30 years.

The baby was born to proud parents Pinny and Bruce and will join a growing colony of rockhoppers at the zoo, which welcomed chicks Sandy and Frankie last year.

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