Featured Image Credit: Jacksonville Zoo
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens recently had a lot to celebrate when they welcomed the addition of two chicks and three adult penguins to their Magellanic penguin group! The fluffy little chicks hatched on July 30th to parents Troy and Victoria, who are also parents to Sharky who hatched last June. The other chick hatched about a week later on August 7th and is the offspring of Austin and Lola. The zoo and zookeepers are excited to see the chicks and the families grow.
Guests will have to wait to meet these new chicks, though. They will not go on exhibit until they are around three months old. There are also two eggs that are being monitored and the zoo is hoping they will have another chick by the end of the year. You know what they say, good things come in threes!
The zoo also adopted three adult penguins from the San Francisco Zoo. The two males and one female are thriving in their new environment. The penguins were brought over due to a breeding recommendation by the Magellanic penguin Species Survival Program, which manages and oversees endangered or threatened species and populations.
So… What is a Magellanic penguin?
They are a group of penguins that are native to the southern coasts of Argentina and Chile. This group is listed as ‘Near Threatened.’ Their population is declining due to overfishing and oil pollution. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens supports penguin conservation efforts such as SANCCOB & AZA Invest in the Nest program.
To learn more about the penguins and all the animals at Jacksonville Zoo, click here!