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UK's First King Penguin Chick Hatches Since 2014!
21 Aug
Summary
- First king penguin chick in the UK since 2014 has hatched.
- The chick was hand-reared due to challenges including summer heat.
- King penguin breeding is notoriously difficult, laying only one egg.
Birdland Park and Gardens in Gloucestershire is celebrating a remarkable achievement with the hatching of the UK's first king penguin chick since 2014. Weighing 188g at birth, the chick required immediate hand-rearing by dedicated keepers.
The chick’s parents, French and Frank, faced several obstacles. Initially, the egg had to be moved to an incubator due to Frank's incorrect positioning and the egg being smaller than average. Keepers also worked to protect the vulnerable chick from the summer heat.
King penguins are known for their challenging breeding process, laying only a single egg every few years. The incubation period lasted two months, and the chick will likely take another 16 months to fledge.
This success marks a significant moment for the park, which last saw a successful king penguin hatching in 2014. Visitors will not be able to see the chick for several weeks as it remains behind the scenes during its critical early development.
