What's Happening in Calgary, AB…

Calgary Zoo welcomed a new arrival on July 7th, and not only is this little one cute and fluffy, it is vital to the continued survival of its species.

After sharing the job of incubating their egg for 37 days, the zoo’s two Gentoo penguins, Giselle and Lochlan, finally got to meet their baby. This is the first penguin to be born at the Penguin Plunge exhibit since it opened in 2012.

The pair, which came from Sea World in Texas, are part of a captive breeding program designed to help increase the numbers of this endangered species of sea going bird. As their kind often does, both parents will take turns in looking after the chick, and will raise it until it can live on its own.

The exhibit’s curator notes that the birds are being closely monitored to make sure they are adapting well to the stresses of parenthood and that their baby is doing fine. A photo of the new chick would make an excellent addition the zoo’s pamphlets, which are produced by local printing companies.

Gentoos can be found in Antarctica and also on the islands off the coast of South America. They spend much of their lives in the water, and are the fastest swimmers in the penguin family.

The new arrival is great news for the Penguin Plunge, which had been closed due to the recent flood. It will reopen on July 31st, allowing the public to see what all the fuss is about.