An emperor penguin chick (Aptenodytes forsteri), recently hatched under the watchful eyes of bird keepers, is in good health and eating well. The chick is being cared for behind the scenes at the Penguin Encounter. Of the 17 species of penguins, emperors are the largest. They reside in cold climates in the Southern Hemisphere. SeaWorld’s 25-degree Fahrenheit Penguin Encounter has the only successful emperor penguin breeding colony outside the Antarctic. The habitat simulates conditions in the birds' natural environment, right down to the austral light cycle. The Encounter's newest arrival hatched Saturday, September 21, 2002, marking the 20th successful emperor penguin hatching at the park since 1980. The hatchling will join SeaWorld's other 350 penguins on public display in about three months. 12-2-02 UpdateOur emperor chick is currently taking day trips from the nursery, (where there are already newly-hatched macaroni, gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins sharing its space), into the Encounter, getting acclimated to the temperature in a corral near the door.
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SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database ©2003 Busch Entertainment Corporation. |
