3 penguin chicks born to 2 pairs, city zoo popln now 21

Time of India

28-04-2025

Mumbai: There's a little celebration happening at the
Byculla zoo
. Three penguin chicks were born to two pairs of Humboldt penguins over since early March — the first such arrivals in over a year.
The first pair, Popeye and Olive, welcomed their hatchling Noddy on Mar 3. The pair, long-time residents at Byculla zoo, have become proud parents. Daisy laid two fertile eggs, both hatched into healthy chicks — Tom, born on Mar 7, and Pingu, on Mar 11.
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Zoo officials said that Tom gets his name to complement Jerry, a chick hatched in Jun 2023 — the last lot born to the penguin family at the city zoo.
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Since the last batch of hatchlings, the penguin eggs that had been laid were either infertile or did not hatch, said an official from the zoo, officially known as Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Vanaspati Udyan va Pranisangrahalaya. "This time, both the chicks hatched."
Tom arrived first, Pingu followed. "Tom, being the elder one of the two siblings, commands more food from the parents, who regurgitate partially digested food and are then feed him," the official said, adding: "We end up feeding Pingu."
The three babies and their mothers are doing fine, said Dr Abhishek Satam, biologist at the zoo. The chicks are being tended to and closely cared for by their parents right now. "The babies are expected to start exploring the pool area once they are about three months old," said an official. Typically, the parents are expected to chaperone the tiny birds in the nesting area; the chicks are expected to enter the waters once they are a little older.
With the latest arrival of three chicks, the population of Humboldt penguins at the zoo has shot up to 21.
The rise in penguin numbers would, of course, mean that space at the penguin enclosure could prove to be a challenge soon. The current one, built in 2017, can house up to 25 birds. Zoo officials said they are now expediting plans to expand the enclosure to accommodate the bustling penguin colony.
Officials said that plans were already afoot for the expansion of the facility by around a quarter more of the existing exhibit area, which is around 1,800 square feet.
The proposed addition is for about another 400 square feet of space which should be able to accommodate close to 40 penguins.
The average age of penguins is around 6–7 years currently, and since the birds can procreate up to 15 years of age, enough arrangement is needed for the newer additions, said the official.
The zoo's
penguin breeding facility
has garnered much appreciation from other zoos in the country, claimed a zoo official.