Good Things Come in Threes
February 13, 2015
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo, in Syracuse, New York, recently announced that three new Humboldt Penguin chicks had hatched in the last three weeks.
Photo Credits: Maria Simmons/Rosamond Gifford Zoo
The zoo’s 40th chick hatched on January 9 to ‘Mario’ and ‘Montaña’ and weighed 79 grams. The 41st chick hatched on January 17 to ‘Frederico’ and ‘Poquita’ and weighed 65 grams. The 42nd chick hatched on January 21 to ‘Frederico’ and ‘Poquita’ and weighed 61 grams.
Zoo staff were able to determine a gender for the 41st chick, and it’s a girl! Staff asked local County Executive, Joanie Mahoney, to help name the chick. She chose ‘Lucia’, which means “light.”
Ted Fox, zoo director, said, “The Rosamond Gifford Zoo continues to play an important role in conserving Humboldt Penguins. Penguins from our colony will travel to other zoos and aquariums to ensure efforts to continue populating the species.”
Humboldt Penguins live along the coast of Peru and Chile in the Humboldt Current. They are endangered, with an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 surviving in the wild.The three chicks will remain under the care of their parents until they are weaned. They will join the rest of the colony on exhibit at the zoo’s Penguin Coast, later this spring.
Contest details will be shared via a media alert and on the zoo’s website and social media platforms.