2 new African penguins can now be observed at the New England Aquarium in Boston

BOSTON — Two new African penguins have joined the rest of the penguin colony at the New England Aquarium in Boston after months of behind-the-scenes care.

The chicks hatched in March and are finally ready to be seen at the exhibit.

The aquarium partners with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE African Penguin program, an international effort to protect and restore wild populations of African penguins.

Eric Fox, deputy penguin curator, said the dedication of their animal care team is part of a “much bigger mission” to help support endangered species.

“Knowing that African penguins could become extinct as early as 2035, these chicks remind us that we are taking direct action for the conservation of their species,” he said in a statement.

The threatened species

The species is found on the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, threatened by food shortages due to overfishing, climate change and pollution.

To help promote a sustainable future for these penguins, the Aquarium participates in the AZA African Penguin Species Survival Plan.

“Our trainers will continue to work on building relationships with the chicks as part of our focus on animal welfare and husbandry,” Fox said in a statement. “A key aspect of this work is training birds to be more comfortable with handling so that things like routine medical exams are a more positive experience.”

The oldest chick, a male named “Bunker,” hatched at the Aquarium on March 21, 2024. His sister, “Althea,” followed on March 27. Both chicks have developed well and now weigh around 40 times their hatching weight.

Their names have an educational and conservation connection to Africa: “Bunker” comes from ship-to-ship replenishment along the southern coast of Africa, and “Althea” is named after Althea Westphal, founder of a organization for the rescue and rehabilitation of African penguins and other seabirds.

Bunker and Althea are two of four chicks that hatched at the Aquarium this year. The others hatched in April and will be ready to join the colony in July.

Penguin training

As part of the acclimation process, the trainers worked on socialization by gradually introducing the chicks to the adult birds. Once their waterproof feathers were in, the chicks learned to swim starting in a backstage kiddie pool, then progressing to larger tubs and finally doing swimming trials inside the water exhibit. penguins.

The Aquarium’s curator of pinnipeds and penguins, Kristen McMahon, said their penguin trainers have a “unique opportunity” to care for birds at different stages of their lives.

“At the New England Aquarium, our first priority is the welfare and well-being of all of our animals,” McMahon said in a statement. “Participation in the SAFE African Penguin program and breeding season are key objectives in providing top-notch care for our penguin colony.”

Click here to plan your next visit to the Aquarium’s penguin colony to see their new four-legged friends.