PREVIEW

Pembrokeshire’s Folly Farm has announced the arrival of five new baby Humboldt penguin chicks - the first penguin chicks to hatch at the zoo since 2021.

Folly Farm keepers were in the position to start breeding the Humboldt penguins again, as part of a managed European Breeding Programme for the species through their membership with the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). These are the first penguin chicks to arrive at the zoo for three years.

The adorable new penguin chicks are growing quickly - and are currently cosy in their nest boxes being cared for by both parents who take it in turns feeding whilst the other goes for a swim in the pool. Chicks can double or even triple in weight every couple of days. In a few weeks, they will leave their nests and be taken by the experienced keepers into their Penguin Nursery facility, where they'll spend a few weeks learning to feed on whole fish and swim in their small 'baby pool', before graduating to the main pool again with the rest of the colony.

Penguin Keeper and Assistant Zoo Manager Caz Davies enthused; “We’re so excited to have chicks again. Each breeding season, keepers choose a catchy naming theme to easily identify the birds – and over the many successful breeding seasons, we’ve had an array of fun themes. From ice lollies and scientists to Simpsons characters and presidents. Penguin chicks can't be sexed until they're a bit older and feather samples can be taken from them so we'll just have to wait on a gender reveal for now!"

Cheese has been chosen as the naming theme this season with the chicks being named; Mozzarella, Camembert, Cheddar, Halloumi and Gorgonzola. ‘Mozzarella’ was the first to arrive on the 30 March to parents, 'Magnum' and 'Feast', followed by ‘Camembert’ on 2 April whose parents are 'Perci' and 'Puffy'. ‘Cheddar’ arrived soon after on 5 May to 'Whippy' and 'Pippy' and ‘Halloumi’ hatched on 10 May to first-time parents 'Einstein' and 'Darwin'. ‘Gorgonzola’ is the youngest chick and hatched on 14 May to 'Popple' and 'Pudding'.

Humboldt penguins are classed as a vulnerable species and threats to them in the wild are numerous. Habitat loss, pollution, climate change and reduced food availability due to commercial fishing are the main issues. Breeding programmes allow zoo and animal collections to safely and responsibly ensure that populations of vulnerable animals like these are protected. Penguin breeding has been on hold at Folly Farm as a result of Penguin Coast being at capacity after rehoming a colony of Macaroni penguins in 2021 after a fellow EAZA zoo closed due to the financial effects of the pandemic.