Nest Neighbors: Two New Rockhopper Penguin Chicks Hatched and on Exhibit With Parents at Shedd Aquarium

CHICAGO - The penguin colony at Shedd Aquarium recently grew by two members, as two penguin pairs welcomed and are actively raising chicks. The chicks are being looked after by their parents in neighboring nests on exhibit, meaning guests may get a chance to see them during a visit to Shedd’s Polar Play Zone.

The young birds hatched just days apart on June 18 and June 20. Each chick weighs nearly 3 pounds, and both are being weighed daily by animal care staff to ensure they are growing appropriately before being returned to their parents. Regular feedings from their parents will help the chicks rapidly grow to nearly full size in the next three months.

Both chicks are being raised by their biological parents. One chick is being raised by Bosco and Tussock – a new pair that is raising a chick together for the first time. The second is being raised by Edward and Annie, two veteran parents that rose to stardom following Shedd’s penguin field trip viral videos and were the subject of their own subsequent children’s book.

The animal care team is providing the parents of each chick with supplemental food throughout the day to keep their energy levels high and ensure they have plenty of food to provide their chicks, which they feed through regurgitation.

The first few months of life can be crucial for the development of young penguins, so the animal care team is keeping a watchful eye on the new arrivals and remains cautiously optimistic. The next big milestone for these chicks will be increased socialization with animal care staff, who will also be feeding the chick small fish filets from time to time.

Every birth at the aquarium is significant, and these new arrivals will contribute to our scientific understanding of this species as well as inspire the public to respect and protect our shared blue planet.

BACKGROUND: Shedd Aquarium cares for two species of penguin on exhibit, rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) and Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). The aquarium has had success in breeding both species in the past but has put a special emphasis on rockhopper breeding this year, as that species is underrepresented in zoos and aquariums.

Southern rockhopper penguin populations in zoos and aquarium are managed through a Species Survival Plan with 16 participating AZA-accredited facilities in the United States. Shedd welcomed its first rockhopper chick in eight years, Isla, in 2023.

Shedd also actively contributes to penguin research and conservation efforts globally, applying animal care expertise and scientific resources to better understand how penguins in the wild are being impacted by climate change.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: High-resolution video and photos of the new penguin chick getting a health exam with its care team can be viewed and downloaded here:

https://personal.filesanywhere.com/guest/fs?v=8e6f67865c637377b4a7&C=50

Video credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Sam Cejtin

Photo credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Heidi Zeiger