The chick is not on exhibit at this time.

The Minnesota Zoo is thrilled to announce the hatching of its first endangered African penguin chick – a significant achievement for the Zoo which opened the 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit in 2011.

Hatched March 2, the penguin – whose gender is not yet known – is currently being raised behind-the-scenes by foster parents.  The biological parents were not incubating the egg consistently so the decision was made to give it to an experienced pair.  So far the chick is doing very well and has grown from 2.4 ounces to over 1 pound, 6 ounces. 

A second chick hatched on March 21 at just under 2 ounces and has grown to almost three pounds.  This chick, who is also male, is living with the older chick in a brooder box which you can view on our penguin webcam. 

Get a close up look at our penguins with a Penguin Encounter.

African penguins live and nest on the southwest coast of Africa.  Considered to be medium-sized, they are approximately 26-28 inches tall and weigh between six and nine pounds when fully developed. They have black backs, faces, wings, feet and beaks with white torsos and white around their crown.  A black band intercepts the white along the upper breast and a small dollop of pink adorns the spot just above the eye and a few areas on their feet.  Juveniles have slate gray backs and lack the facial pattern that the adults have. 

African penguins feed primarily on anchovies, sardines, herring and pelagic goby and eat nearly 15% of their body weight each day.  Their life expectancy in the wild is between 10-15 years; birds in human care can live up to 30 years.

African penguins, like most other penguin species, are endangered in the wild. Oil spills, historical hunting, and destruction of their habitat have killed 80% of the population in the last 50 years. They are currently in a crisis situation due to catastrophic food shortages.

Large catches of fish from commercial fisheries as well as climate change, which has shifted fish populations further away from the coast, have both been attributed to the decline in the global population.  Due to this fish shortage, adults may abandon their nests or their growing chicks.

The Minnesota Zoo has awarded one of its penguin keepers, Becky Heller, with a Ulysses S. Seal Grant to travel to South Africa and participate in the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) keeper exchange program. The organization has a chick bolstering project where they hand-rear and release orphaned chicks in an effort to aid wild populations.  Along with Heller’s participation, the Zoo has also donated funds to this effort.  To find out more about this project, visit http://sanccob.co.za.

The Zoo is committed to supporting sustainable seafood to help protect our environment and the animals that depend on these resources. To find more information about choosing sustainable fish options, visit mnzoo.org/fishsmart.