Humboldt penguin chick hatches at Lincoln Children’s Zoo
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Children’s Zoo announced the hatching of a Humboldt penguin chick on Wednesday.
The chick is the offspring of mom, Sharkbait, and dad, John Henry. It hatched on Dec. 15.
This is Sharkbait and John Henry’s second chick after Percy, who hatched in April 2024.
“Sharkbait and John Henry did a very good job taking care of Percy, but they definitely know what they are doing this time around and were not hesitant to jump right in and take care of their chick,” said Dr. Ruth Marcec-Greaves, the zoo’s general curator, in a press release. “This chick is very inquisitive and is trying to explore away from mom and dad early.”
The zoo said the parents have been guarding the chick since it hatched, “keeping it warm and feeding it by regurgitating partially digested food into the chick’s mouth.”
Vet staff are monitoring the chick daily to make sure that it is health and processing well. The chick’s hatch weight was 72 grams, and the team is awaiting the results of a blood test to determine its sex.
“Lincoln Children’s Zoo plays an important role in animal conservation and protecting species from extinction,” said Evan Killeen, the zoo’s CEO. “The birth of a vulnerable species such as the Humboldt penguins is incredibly important for these conservation efforts since they face a high risk of extinction in the wild.”
The chick will continue to spend time off-exhibit as it grows and develops its waterproof feathers, according to the zoo. You can follow along on the zoo’s social media pages for updates.
