Jurong Bird Park scores a hat trick for king penguin hatchings
27 May 2019
Percy, the oldest of the trio of King penguin chicks, being introduced to the rest of the colony on 23 April at the park’s indoor Penguin Coast exhibit. Percy and the two younger chicks, Brix and Arlo, were hatched at the park’s Breeding and Research Centre.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
The park last welcomed a King penguin chick—Maru—in 2017. King penguins are the world’s second largest penguin, after the Emperor penguin. They can weigh up to 15kg and live up to 30 years under human care.
Percy, Brix and Arlo weighed in at over 200g each when they hatched and have blossomed into adorable fluffiness within a healthy weight range of 7 to 10kg today. They are currently on a diet of herring and capelin and fed thrice a day. The trio was artificially incubated at the park’s Breeding and Research Centre to maximise chances of a successful hatching. After a couple of months under their human caregivers’ tender loving care, the chicks were introduced to the rest of the colony.
Visitors will be able to spot them at the indoor Penguin Coast, tucked safely within the confines of a corral. Young King penguins are not able to swim until they have their adult plumage, and the corral is there to prevent excited adult King penguins from accidentally knocking them into the water. The process of moulting can take up to nine months.
With the new additions, the park is home to 17 King Penguins. Altogether, Jurong Bird Park exhibits six species of penguins: African, Gentoo, Humboldt, King, Macaroni and the Rockhopper.
Days-old male King penguin Percy snoozing soundly, with his furry friend keeping guard. Percy hatched on 22 February, making him the oldest of the trio.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Percy at two months, being fed by one of his keepers, Muhd Hafiz Bin Yani, shortly after his introduction to the colony. Percy currently weighs 10.4kg.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Days-old male King penguin Percy snoozing soundly, with his furry friend keeping guard. Percy hatched on 22 February, making him the oldest of the trio.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Percy at two months, being fed by one of his keepers, Muhd Hafiz Bin Yani, shortly after his introduction to the colony. Percy currently weighs 10.4kg.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Arlo (with open mouth) and Brix’s hatch dates are one week apart, with Arlo hatching on 10 March. In this picture, they were waiting to be fed at the park’s Breeding and Research Centre
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Male King penguin Arlo is the youngest of the trio—weighing in at 7.1kg—and loves attention from the avian keepers.
PHOTO CREDITS: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
