Mumbai: Three new penguins born at Byculla zoo
In the first such event in more than a year, the zoo authorities at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan and Zoo announced the birth of three new baby penguins — Noddy, Tom and Pingu — taking the total tally of the Humboldt penguins at the Byculla zoo up to 21.
The eldest of the penguin chicks, Noddy, was born on March 4 to Olive and Poppy while Daisy and Donald gave birth to Tom and Pingu. Tom was born on March 7 while the youngest of the lot was born on March 11. The announcement of their birth, which has sparked immense joy among the authorities, came on April 25 — which is celebrated as World Penguin Day.
While the three new additions have been opened for public viewing, officials said that the baby penguins spend most of their time within the nest inside the facility — leaving them inaccessible for visitors' viewing.
Biologists at the zoo said that the 'tiniest waddlers' of the zoo are healthy and sound. 'These days, we provide the food to the parents who chew the food, make a flurry and then feed their chicks themselves,' added an official.
Prior to this, the Byculla zoo had welcomed three penguins in 2023 when three different pairs of parents gave birth to Coco (female), Stella (female) and Jerry (male). The arrival of the new baby penguins has taken the total tally of Humboldt penguins to 21.
Amid the burgeoning population of the species at the zoo, the Byculla authorities have offered penguins for exchange programmes across the zoo in a bid to procure other animals. However, the penguins have found no takers thus — owing to their high costs of maintenance and care — sparking concerns of dwindling space for the penguins at the existing facility.
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