AssetID: 52978686
Headline: Duo Penguin Chicks Take First Ever Swimming Lessons At UK Zoo
Caption: Two adorable Humboldt penguin chicks have taken their first ever swimming lessons at Chester Zoo in the U.K. Having hatched a little earlier in the year, the chicks, named Ryan and Rob after Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have naturally shed their fuzzy grey baby feathers and finally joined the zoo’s 45 strong adult colony for a proper dip. The pair were named in homage to Rob and Ryan due to the celebrity duo’s ownership of nearby Wrexham AFC - the Welsh cross-border side with whom Chester’s football team enjoy a bitter rivalry. Humboldt penguins are native to the coasts of Chile and Peru in South America and are known for their charismatic personalities and unique black-and-white markings. Zoe Sweetman, Team Manager of Penguins and Parrots at the zoo, said: “After hatching out of their eggs only a few months ago, these two youngsters have been closely cared for by their parents while snuggled up in their nests. But now they’ve shed their fluffy grey feathers and developed their multi-layered waterproof feathers. Watching as they tentatively make a splash is a real joy and within minutes they did what comes naturally to them, and now they’re zooming through the waters at high speed. She explained that their names were chosen due to their playful nature - with their antics matching those of the Hollywood funnymen. “Each year our team enjoys choosing a different naming theme for the chicks to help garner some much needed attention for the species,” Zoe adds. “We’ve previously had brands of crisps, chocolate bars and types of fruit. This year, as one of our penguin keepers is huge fan of local football team, Wrexham AFC, we decided to do something a little different and name the two new male arrivals after Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan (Reynolds) and Rob (McElhenney). They’re both so full of personality and charisma – so it seemed rather fitting. Their diving skills are already spot on.” She also hopes the names draw attention to the aquatic birds’ plight - and perhaps they might even get a visit from their famous namesakes if in the area. “While it’s a lot of fun, there’s also a serious message behind it too,” the penguin keeper adds. “We hope we can help spread some much-needed awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and inspire more people to take small, daily steps in playing an active role in protecting the future of species like the Humboldt penguin. Some very simple things we can all do are using less single-use plastics, eating sustainably caught fish, and reducing energy use - even if it’s just a little - that contributes to the warming of the seas.” The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Humboldt penguin as "Vulnerable" on its Red List of Threatened Species. The key factors contributing to their decline include overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution, as well as climate change. Additionally, human encroachment on their nesting sites disrupts their colonies, putting further pressure on the species. Chester Zoo plays a crucial role in the conservation and protection of endangered species like the Humboldt penguin through its breeding programmes with other major conservation zoos across the globe.
Keywords: chester zoo,penguins,ryan reynolds,rob mcelhenney,hollywood,nature,animals
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