CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Lincoln Park Zoo has added new, feathered residents to its ranks: Two endangered African penguin chicks hatched in late June.
Both eggs were laid by African penguin Luna with her partner Oliver as part of the African Penguin Species Survival Plan.
Nikki Finch-Mason, the Hope B. McCormick curator of birds at Lincoln Park Zoo, said African penguins are especially endangered.
“African penguins, unfortunately, are some of the most endangered penguins in the world,” she said. “We’ve seen about a 75% decline in population in the last 20 years.”
The chicks are doing well and already weigh close to 6 pounds. Finch-Mason said the birds grow up quickly.
“They’re fully fledged and pretty independent by about 70 or 80 days old,” she said.
She said they will enter the zoo's penguin colony as soon as they complete swimming lessons.
“Once they have pretty well mastered their swimming skills, we can monitor them out in the big penguin habitat,” Finch-Mason said.
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