Chester Zoo in the UK is celebrating a successful breeding season for its Humboldt penguins, including a heartwarming story of a same-sex couple, Scampi and Flounder, who adopted a chick. This highlights the zoo's commitment to conservation.
Between April 16th and 28th, 2025, ten adorable penguin chicks hatched at the zoo. To ensure the highest survival rate, keepers carefully distributed eggs among various penguin pairs, providing the chicks with the best possible care.
Zoe Sweetman, the team manager for the penguins, expressed her delight at the program's achievements. She emphasized the importance of the zoo's work, as Humboldt penguins, native to the coasts of Peru and Chile, are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Climate change, overfishing, and rising ocean temperatures pose significant threats to their survival. Chester Zoo plays a crucial role in the international breeding program, contributing to a healthy population within conservation zoos throughout Europe and helping to protect this vulnerable species.