Adventure Aquarium’s penguin colony just got a little bigger! After welcoming two African penguin chicks in December, they’ve now confirmed a third chick has joined the family. This new arrival is a male, and visitors will soon get to help name him.
Starting January 5, guests can participate in a fun naming contest at the aquarium. You can choose from four names: Scrappy, Zero, Flounder, or Toothless. These names were picked by the aquarium’s Birds & Mammals team. Voting will happen on-site through donation boxes, and all proceeds will support AZA SAFE African Penguins and SANCCOB, two organizations dedicated to protecting African penguins in the wild. Voting runs until January 19, and the winning name will be announced on January 20, which is also Penguin Awareness Day.
Maddie Olszewski-Pohle, a biologist at the aquarium, expressed excitement about the new chick. He is the biggest of the season and is being well cared for by his parents, Mushu and Hubert. This chick is the 53rd penguin born at Adventure Aquarium and the second for this pair.
While you won’t see the new chick just yet, he’ll stay behind the scenes until he’s ready to swim. Keep an eye on Adventure Aquarium’s social media for updates and milestones.
This birth is especially important as African penguins are critically endangered. Without ongoing conservation efforts, they could face extinction by 2035. Adventure Aquarium is committed to helping these amazing birds thrive. So, get ready to vote and support penguin conservation!
