ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - After an online, public vote the Saint Louis Zoo has announced the name of the southern rockhopper penguin that hatched at the zoo on Dec. 11.
The winning named is Opal, which received about 16,000 of the more than 36,000 total votes. It beat out Pebbles, Luna and Lumi.
Opal is a female southern rockhopper penguin and is the first successful hatch of this species at the zoo in 11 years. The hatching was the result of a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Southern Rockhopper Species Survival Plan, a program to manage a genetically healthy population of southern rockhopper penguins in North American zoos.
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This chick has a remarkable hatch story, which involves the biological and foster parent penguins, and the skilled, dedicated bird care team at the Zoo. See Opal’s story, video and photos at stlzoo.org/rockhopperchick (also copied below).
Soon the chick will be reintroduced to her rockhopper family and other penguins in their public habitat at Penguin & Puffin Coast.
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