Welcome To Two New Penguin Chicks!
We’re proud to announce that two African blackfooted penguin chicks hatched last week! Both chicks are in nests in our Splash Zone exhibit, and have been spotted a handful of times since hatching.
Chick One hatched on May 7 to parents Karoo and Messina. Chick Two hatched the following day, on May 8, and is in a nest with experienced surrogate parents Boulders and Walvis. (Bee and Geyser are the biological parents, but are inexperienced raising chicks.)
When they hatched, both weighed about two ounces, and each has grown to over seven ounces. Regular check-ups, like the one in this video, help us keep tabs on the health of these fragile chicks.
These little fluff balls stay with their parents for about three weeks or until they start leaving their nests–then we’ll move the families behind the scenes for the chicks’ safety. We will eventually name them and return the families to our exhibit, or may transfer one or both of the chicks to other accredited zoos or aquariums as part the Species Survival Plan for this threatened species.
These are the sixth and seventh chicks to hatch at the Aquarium. Rey hatched in June 2014 and is on exhibit. Maq hatched in August 2013 and is also on exhibit. Of three chicks that hatched in January 2011, the two males, Pebble and Tola, survived and are both doing well at Dallas World Aquarium. The third chick did not survive. (Despite excellent parental and veterinary care, penguin chicks have a high rate of mortality.)
African blackfooted penguins are considered endangered, as their population has been reduced by about 90% over the past century. We can help them in the wild by protecting the ocean habitats these animals depend upon—and by choosing ocean-friendly seafood with our Seafood Watch app.
We’ll keep you updated on our newest additions–and if you’re lucky, you may spot one of the chicks peeping out from its nest!
Watch our penguin exhibit cam
Learn more about these endangered animals
Monterey Bay Aquarium
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The perennially popular penguin
There are few things in life cuter than a penguin. OK, maybe when a penguin waddles, especially if there are more than one and it’s actually a parade!
The colony of African blackfooted penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in our Splash Zone family gallery is a must-see on any visit. These stout little birds are endlessly entertaining as they preen, feed, sleep, waddle and swim. You can also catch all the action every day on our Penguin Cam.
Each of our penguins has a name (look for identification bands on their wings) and there are several mated pairs. To date, those pairs have produced four chicks that grew up under both human and penguin care.
Cornerstone of our colony
Most of our penguins came from the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, arriving in 2005 for the debut of Splash Zone. Years later, they held a family reunion of sorts when we rescued the penguin colony (and two sea otters) from that aquarium after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. These southern cousins eventually returned home to much fanfare, and we were proud and happy to have hosted them. (We think the penguins were, too.)
Other penguins in our colony came from other zoos and aquariums. One of those is Bee, short for Bumblebee, who is 16 years old and came from the Memphis Zoo in 2010. Bee and her mate, Geyser, are the biological parents of Maq, one of the chicks hatched at the Aquarium that you can find on exhibit.
Bee is featured with National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore in an article about his Photo Ark project in Audubon magazine. She’s also the portrait on this post.
Our thanks to Joel for the wonderful images of our animals that he created for his Photo Ark project.
It’s Endangered Species Day, and we’re putting the spotlight on these incredible and threatened ocean animals. Share your favorite animal with friends and family!
Learn how we’re helping save species from extinction
ROVing in the deep: Part Three
By Samantha Wishnak, Social Media Associate
What do scientists do with all the samples they bring back from the deep sea? Join researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and I in the fun as we separate, sieve and slog through sand, mud and rocks from the deep!
Catch up on the expedition
ROVing in the deep
By Samantha Wishnak, Social Media Associate
This week I’m out in Monterey Bay with scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Our mission: get to the bottom of the bay. The tools: a high-tech robot and support boat!
The robot, a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) called the Doc Ricketts, acts as the eyes and mechanical arms of MBARI researchers at sea. But first—they have to move it from the center of the three-story Western Flyer research vessel, into the ocean. How do they do it? The floor drops out of the boat! It takes a crew of eight just to launch the ROV—and there are also seven other crew members and five scientists aboard. (I’m on the science team!)
We’re “flying” this robot to MARS!
We’re launching the ROV to reach the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS), an underwater power station where scientists can plug in their experiments. It’s located 3,000 feet below the surface, at the bottom of Monterey Bay. Like any network, it requires monitoring and maintenance. One of the reasons we’re out here is to check on parts of the 32-mile long undersea cable that runs from Moss Landing to the mouth of Monterey Bay. This is not your average extension cord!
Tomorrow I’ll take you into the control room—stay tuned.
Happy #WorldPenguinDay from our colony to yours! Join the penguin-palooza with our live web cam. Look closely—some penguins may be tucked away in the rocks!
View our Penguin Cam
Learn more about how we’re helping rear endangered African blackfooted penguins, in our podcast.
It’s a penguin parade! Our African blackfooted penguins waddle and wander through the Aquarium on occasional outings our staff designs to keep these inquisitive animals happy and healthy.
Watch our live penguin cam
Learn more about this endangered species
Have you been lucky enough to see our Splash Zone “penguin parade” on Thursdays? Sign up for text alerts when you arrive to ensure you don’t miss a thing!
Learn more about African blackfooted penguins and the dangers they face in the wild
What do our African blackfooted penguins do for fun? In this photo, Tola plays with some plastic hoops in an “enrichment” activity–one of many designed to keep our animals stimulated and healthy. You can see them in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Splash Zone exhibit!
Did you hear the good news? Last week we welcomed two new chicks to our African blackfooted penguin exhibit!
Chick One hatched on May 7 to parents Karoo and Messina. Chick Two hatched the following day, on May 8, and is in a nest with experienced surrogate parents Boulders and Walvis. (Bee and Geyser are the biological parents, but are inexperienced raising chicks.)
When they hatched, both weighed about two ounces, and each has grown to over seven ounces. Regular check-ups help us keep tabs on the health of these fragile chicks.
These little fluff balls stay with their parents for about three weeks or until they start leaving their nests–then we’ll move the families behind the scenes for the chicks’ safety. We will eventually name them and return the families to our exhibit, or may transfer one or both of the chicks to other accredited zoos or aquariums as part the Species Survival Plan for this threatened species.
Watch the video of their first check-up
Try to spot a fluffy chick on our Penguin Cam
Little red octopus 🐙❤️
These little red octopus are sea-ternly the masters of disguise, thanks to their ability to change color and texture to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Check out those inkredible hiding skills!