Friday, May 20, 2016

Baby penguin taken away to gain weight to be reunited with parents via special pen

2016-05-19
ITV News

baby penguin



A baby Humboldt penguin born eight weeks ago is about to be reunited with its parents after being taken away to gain weight. Credit: Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park
 

A baby Humboldt penguin who was born weighing less than 100 grams is about to be reunited with its parents after it was taken away to gain weight.
The 8-week-old penguin stopped growing two weeks after being born so staff at the Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park intervened to begin tube-feeding the baby.
Within the next week, the new addition will be introduced to the colony of 14 Humboldt Penguins, including its parents, through a special pen for protection and reintroduction.

The new addition will be introduced to the colony of 14 Humboldt penguins through a special pen in the next week.


The new addition will be introduced to the colony of 14 Humboldt penguins through a special pen in the next week. Credit: Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park
 

The little penguin was welcomed on March 23 to first-time parents Laurel and Cedar.
Although they were doing a good job of sustaining it, the baby penguin stopped gaining weight and then developed a wheeze meaning it needed medication and regular supervision.

The penguin was born to first-time parents Laurel and Cedar.

The penguin was born to first-time parents Laurel and Cedar. Credit: Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park
 

Fiona Smith, Displays Curator at the Park said:
"It was definitely touch and go for our new addition at the beginning but after careful monitoring and teaching how to feed, the baby penguin is doing very well and now weighs 3kg. We’re so pleased with its progress and look forward to reuniting parents and baby in due course."
"Laurel and Cedar have only laid one egg before in 2009 and have been paired for years before that. This baby penguin is very special as it’s the first of its genes we have within the SEA LIFE breeding programme."
– Fiona Smith, Displays Curator at Sea Life Adventure Park Weymouth

baby penguin


The baby Humboldt penguin was born weighing less than 100 grams. Credit: Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park

Before then, the team’s aims are to make sure it's strong enough and feeding well.
The team at Weymouth are currently waiting on the hatching of 5 eggs to several pairs.


baby penguin 2

The team at the Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park is now waiting on 5 more eggs to hatch. Credit: Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park

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