GALVESTON, Texas, Dec. 14 -- Penguin baby boom is becoming increasingly likely at Moody Gardens. Two gentoo penguin eggs hatched on Dec. 10 and Dec. 13 in addition to the first penguin chick born on Dec. 7. They are among the record-breaking 24 eggs of the season. Moody Gardens biologists are expecting to see more chicks on the way and are hopeful to see chinstrap penguin baby births for the first time.
“You can see these babies with their parents in their at our exhibit,” said Diane Olsen, assistant curator, Moody Gardens. “The parents are doing a wonderful job, and we are just here to make sure everything is going smooth.”
Being from the Southern Hemisphere of the world, and more specifically, South Georgia Island, the penguins observe opposite seasons from Texas. This makes now their springtime and the prime breeding season. Chinstrap and gentoo penguins, unlike their larger exhibit roommates, the king penguins, build nests using rocks. Nests can reach up to three feet across and several inches-thick of breeding rocks to protect the eggs from sudden floods and the cold ground. Because of the “rock-hard” nature of their nesting materials, penguin eggs are much thicker than regular bird eggs and can withstand being rolled and turned on rocks during incubation without cracking.
King penguins, which together have laid three eggs so far, on the other hand, hold their eggs on their feet and will do so for around two months, switching off between the parents every day or so. This species of penguin eggs normally take longer to hatch. Once chicks are born, they also take longer than their smaller cousins to become full grown.
Because of their strong popularity, penguins play an influential role as ambassadors for wildlife conservation. Some of the chicks will be arranged to be transferred to other institutions when they mature enough, and their conditions stabilize. Until then, the small, fuzzy critters will be seen on exhibit at Moody Gardens with the rest of over 100 penguins.
Public can watch the penguins the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid or on the Live Penguin Cam at www.moodygardens.com/penguincam2.html. For information, please visit moodygardens.org or 800-582-4673.
|
