Meet the Baby Magellanic Penguin

There’s a new penguin chick at the Aquarium of the Pacific that will make its public debut on August 8, joining its parents and siblings in the aquarium’s June Keyes Penguin Habitat.

The Magellanic Penguin chick hatched in May with a downy layer of plumage that is not watertight. Its parents took turns feeding the chick after it hatched. After twenty-one days, the chick was taken to a behind-the-scenes nursery. It will remain there until it starts fledging, the process by which its down is replaced by watertight juvenile feathers.

The aquarium says the chick has been learning to swim and to take hand-fed, whole fish.

“Our little feathered friend does not have a name yet,” says Marilyn Padilla, the aquarium’s public relations director. “We are waiting to find out if it is female or male, which we should know around the time it goes on exhibit.”

In celebration of the baby bird, the Aquarium of the Pacific will offer guests an opportunity to adopt the chick through its Adopt an Animal program for a chance to go behind the scenes for a feeding and training session.

For more information: Aquarium of the Pacific |  100 Aquarium Way | Long Beach, CA 90802 | (562) 590-3100