Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo had an addition to the Humboldt penguin family, making it the first zoo in the country have Humboldt penguin chick hatched while in captivity.
The chick that hatched at 8.02 pm on August 15 is in good health, according to the zoo authorities. The mother, Flipper, is doing fine as well, they added.
“It’s a proud moment for us. The chick was born on an auspicious day as well – Independence Day. While the chick is doing well, the initial period is crucial for it. We are yet to ascertain its gender. The parents – Flipper and Molt – are taking care of it at the moment,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, Director of the zoo.
The egg was laid by Flipper, a four-and-a-half-year-old Humboldt penguin on July 5 and hatched 40 days later. Normally, penguins lay two eggs at a time, but Flipper laid just one egg, the penguin caretakers said.
Dr Madhumita Kale, Head Veterinarian and in-charge of the penguin enclosure, said that the zoo authorities had kept a constant watch on the health of the parents
Earlier Eight Humboldt penguins three males and five females were brought from Seoul in South Korea to Byculla zoo on July 26 2016. Out of which One of them-Dory died on October 23, 2016 due to a bacterial infection.
