Woodland Park Zoo is proud to share the news of a successful Humboldt penguin hatching. The new arrival is the first chick for parents Merlin and Tucker, who were paired following a recommendation from the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan, a cooperative program that ensures accredited zoos maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations of this vulnerable species.

After an incubation period of 39 to 41 days, during which both parents shared duties, the chick is now being cared for in a nesting burrow. To ensure she reaches her growth milestones with minimal disturbance, zoo staff are conducting routine weigh-ins. While she currently remains in the burrow, she is expected to join the rest of the 34-member colony in their outdoor habitat later this summer. Click here for photos of the new hatchling.

This birth is a testament to one of the most successful Humboldt penguin breeding programs in North America. Since the current penguin habitat opened, the zoo has successfully raised 98 chicks. These efforts are critical for a species with only approximately 23,800 individuals remaining in their natural range. Unlike their Antarctic relatives, Humboldt penguins are native to the hot, dry coastlines of Peru and Chile, where they are known to "fly" underwater at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

The zoo’s commitment to these birds extends beyond its grounds through support for the Center for Conservation of the Humboldt Penguin in Punta San Juan, Peru, which is home to the largest colony in that country. The public can help safeguard these penguins by participating in the ZooParent adoption program or by choosing sustainable seafood as recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.

For more information on the zoo’s conservation projects or to become a member, please visit www.zoo.org. Detailed information regarding accessibility resources, sensory tools, and ADA accommodations is available at www.zoo.org/access.

For media inquiries, please contact Gigi Allianic or Craig Newberry at woodlandparkzoopr@zoo.org