PREVIEW

Penguin Chicks Have Their First Swimming Lesson. 11 Humboldt penguin chicks have taken to the water for their first swimming lesson. The chicks, named McVitie, Swiftie, Gonzo, Pepe, Beaker, Coco, Bob, Thérèse, Randall, Hanbury and Medici, hatched at London Zoo’s iconic Penguin Beach in April and were ready to take their first dip in the shallow training pool. Penguin chicks aren’t able to swim straight away due to their soft, downy feathers but at around 6-12 weeks old, those feathers are replaced by stiff, waterproof black and white feathers, which are perfect for swimming with. The penguins all started by tentatively inspecting the small nursery pool looking at the water, walking towards the edge, walking away and then coming back. Humboldt penguins are native to coastal Peru and Chile and are excellent natural swimmers. Their paddle-like wings act as flippers, propelling them through the water like Olympic swimmers at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Jessica said, “These youngsters won’t be reaching 30 miles per hour speeds just yet, but we’re really pleased with the progress they’re making so far!”