Stork drops more gentoo penguins at Tennessee Aquarium
Tennessee Aquarium officials say that three gentoo penguins born earlier this summer are developing well, although their raising has presented a unique set of circumstances.
Two of the chicks are actually siblings but are being raised by different mothers.
“When Bug and Big T’s first egg hatched, they were having a tough time keeping both the second egg and the chick underneath them,” says senior aviculturist Loribeth Lee. “Biscuit and Blue did not have a viable egg this year, so we were able to move the second egg into their nest. It hatched a couple of days later, and they have done a beautiful job caring for their adopted chick.”
This is the first time a baby penguin has been raised at the aquarium by surrogate parents, officials say. In the past, aviculturists have supplemented feedings for any chicks that were not receiving enough nourishment from their parents.
“We always prefer to let the parents raise their chicks, but we’ll intervene whenever necessary,” says Lee. “Since Biscuit and Blue have been diligent parents in the past, we believed they would do a great job caring for Bug and Big T’s chick, and they have.”
In addition to rapid growth, the three newest gentoos are showing their individuality.
“The chick in Biscuit and Blue’s nest acts pretty mellow, preferring to hide its head under mom or dad,” says Lee. “Bug and Big T’s other chick is pretty perky and active, but nothing like Nipper’s chick. He acts feisty, just like his father, and loves to bite and squawk a lot.”
The aquarium also welcomed a baby macaroni penguin this season. Visitors can find out more about the chicks during daily penguin programs, which start at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The gender of the four penguin chicks will be determined this fall when every bird in the colony undergoes a physical examination. A blood sample will be collected from the juvenile birds and sent to a lab for DNA testing. Once it has been determined whether the new additions are male or female, a naming contest will begin on the aquarium’s Facebook page.
Admission to the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St., is $24.95 for adults, $18.95 for children 3-12.
For more information, call 1-800-262-0695 or visit www.tnaqua.org.