Latest news with #Flounder
Metro
05-07-2025
- Science
- Metro
Same-sex penguin couple are raising chick together at UK zoo
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Chester Zoo is celebrating after a same-sex penguin couple hatched their adopted chick in what zookeepers hailed as a 'bumper year' for the threatened species. Gay 'lovebirds' Scampi and Flounder brought the Humboldt hatchling into the world in April and have spent the first few weeks nested in their burrow. Their baby will soon join the zoo's 63-strong penguin colony. The adorable new arrival is one of 10 to have been born to their adoring parents between April 16 and 28. Chester Zoo said another penguin pair, Wotsit and Peach, laid two eggs before the 'devoted duo' Scampi and Flounder stepped in to help to raise one. Experts carefully divided the eggs between the two couple's nests to give the chicks the 'best possible start' and to improve the chances of 'successful fledging' – meaning the transformation process when penguin chick lose their fluffy down feathers and develop waterproof adult feathers. Keepers at Chester Zoo have been giving the new penguin parents plenty of extra fish to support them during this important time. The adult penguins swallow, blend into a protein-rich soup and then regurgitate to feed the chicks. Each new arrival is also weighed and has their airways checked regularly to help monitor their development – often tripling or even quadrupling in size in just a few weeks. The medium-sized Humboldt penguin is from the coastal regions of Peru and Chile. As they are one of the most vulnerable of the world's penguin species, Scampi and Flounder's new chick is a welcome new addition. In 2023, a survey found 842 Humboldt breeding pairs or active nests in two islands off the coast of Chile. A year later, scientist found just one breeding pair, Reuters reported. Chester Zoo announced the new arrivals on Instagram, writing: 'We've welcome 10 Humboldt penguin chicks – and you're about to fall in love with every one of them! 'Watch them grow from tiny hatchlings to chunky chicks.' Zoe Sweetman, Team Manager of Penguins, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged!' She added that they were just days away from taking to the water, saying it was 'always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time'. In keeping with tradition, the zoo's keepers have picked a new theme for the names of the chicks hatched. More Trending Previous themes have included chocolate bars, brands of crisps and even NHS heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders,' Zoe said. While eight of the ten chicks have been named – Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena – the final two will be chosen by the public, via submissions on Chester Zoo's social media pages. Same-sex relationships are not unheard of in the penguin world and a gay pair called Sphen and Magic became world-famous after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man who urged vulnerable woman to kill herself so he could take pleasure watching is jailed MORE: 'Bear Alcatraz' floated as migrant detention center near alligators opens for Trump MORE: Quick-thinking man buys two 99s from an ice cream van stuck in traffic
ITV News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Same-sex penguin couple hatch and raise chick at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is celebrating a 'bumper year' for penguins, as ten rare chicks hatch. The new arrivals belong to the highly threatened Humboldt breed, one of the most at risk species of penguins in the world. They are native to the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile and can reach speeds of up to 25mph in the water. The chicks began hatching in April this year and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. One of the chicks is being raised by a same-sex penguin couple, Scampi and Flounder, after the keepers shared out eggs between nests to help improve chances of successful fledging. The chicks are now said to be just 'days away' from taking their very first swimming lessons at the zoo's Penguin Island habitat - a special milestone where they'll be seen taking to the water alongside their parents. As part of a long-standing zoo tradition, conservationists pick a different naming theme for the chicks each year. Previous topics have included chocolate bars, brands of crisps and even NHS heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year's cohort have been named after stars and celestial wonders, with keepers dubbing eight of the chicks Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. The final two chicks are yet to be named, with the public being asked to help choose. Zoe Sweetman, Team Manager of Penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here." "It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme." "The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged." 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone - their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time." 'In what has been one of our long standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony." "But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures. These factors are reducing the availability of fish and forcing the penguins to travel further from their nests to find food, which increases the risk of survival to both adults and their chicks. The penguin colony at Chester Zoo plays a vital role in the international breeding programme for the species, helping to maintain a genetically healthy population in conservation zoos across Europe. Humboldt penguin facts:
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Gay penguin couple hatch and raise chick
A same-sex penguin couple has hatched and raised a baby chick which was rejected by its parents. Scampi and Flounder, two males, took on the parenting responsibility as 10 rare Humboldt penguin chicks were born at Chester Zoo, Cheshire, in April. The couple stepped in to help incubate and hatch one of two eggs laid by another penguin pair called Wotsit and Peach. Same-sex penguin relationships are not unheard of: a gay pair called Sphen and Magic rose to fame after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Both mother and father penguins usually take solo shifts feeding and caring for the chick, but Scampi and Flounder have taken on the role together in what the zoo described as a 'heart-warming development'. Photos show the chicks undergoing regular weigh-ins, and are said to be just 'days away' from their first swimming lessons. Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged. 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone – their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.' The highly-threatened Humboldt species is one of the most at risk of extinction out of the world's 17 species of penguin. Bird experts shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and help improve the chances of successful fledging. The chicks began hatching from their eggs between April 16 and 28 and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. Keepers have now named eight of the penguins after constellations and celestial wonders: Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. Ms Sweetman added: 'In what has been one of our long-standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks, and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders. 'But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gay penguin couple Scampi and Flounder are stepping up to raise chick at UK zoo
A same-sex penguin couple have become parents for the first time to a baby chick at Chester Zoo. Male penguins Scampi and Flounder have shared a close bond for a few years and have now stepped up to raise a chick. The pair took on the parenting responsibility after ten Humboldt penguin chicks arrived at the attraction in April. Another penguin couple, Wotsit and Peach, laid two eggs and zookeepers decided to allow the males to raise one of the chicks themselves. The Chester Zoo team said this was to allow each pair to focus solely on one chick and increase the chance of both fledgling. Same-sex relationships are not unheard of in the penguin world and a gay pair called Sphen and Magic became world-famous after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Both male and female penguin parents usually share feeding duties but in an a 'heartwarming development' Scampi and Flounder have taken on the role together. Adorable photos show the youngsters undergoing regular weigh-ins and are said to be just 'days away' from their first swimming lessons. A Chester Zoo spokesperson said: 'Penguin couple Wotsit (male) and Peach (female) are first time parents. 'They laid two eggs and the keeper team decided to give one of their eggs to couple Scampi and Flounder to raise. 'This is just to help give each chick the very best chance of fledging the nest and so the new parents have one chick to focus on. 'Our keepers refer to Scampi and Flounder as a gay couple as they share a really close bond and have been together for a few years - which is why they were trusted to raise and care for one of the eggs and raise a chick.' Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged. 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone - their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.' Humboldt Penguins Scientific name: Spheniscus humboldti This South American penguin is named after the chilly Humboldt current, along which the penguins commonly swim. In the wild, Humboldt penguins are vulnerable to disturbances in their food chain caused by strong El Nino currents. Humboldt penguins are social animals, living in relatively large colonies of closely spaced burrows. Humboldt penguins 'fly' through the water at speeds of up to 25mph. They enjoy a diet of small fish (anchovies, herring, smelt) and crustaceans. The highly-threatened Humboldt species is one of the most at risk of extinction out of the world's 17 species of penguin. Bird experts shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and help improve chances of successful fledging. The chicks began hatching from their eggs between April 16-28 and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. Keepers have now named eight of the penguins after constellations and celestial wonders - Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. Zoe added: 'In what has been one of our long standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders. 'But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ten rare Humboldt penguin chicks named after constellations
Ten rare Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched at Chester Zoo in the UK. The tiny penguins have been named after constellations and other space-themed wonders."Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here." said Zoe Sweetman, Team Manager of Penguins at Chester Zoo."It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme." she penguins are native to the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, and are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).The penguins face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, over-fishing and rising ocean temperatures. The chicks began hatching from their eggs in April, and have spent their first few weeks tucked away in their nest burrows with their parents as they grow of the chicks was raised by two male penguins named Scampi and Flounder. The keepers say the couple stepped in to help take care of an extra egg laid by two other penguins called Wotsit and and Flounder are already parenting pros, having successfully raised another chick last year named Verbana. "Each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony," said Zoe."This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders."This year's chicks are named Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. The two final chicks will be named by the public in a special themes have included chocolate bars, brands of crisps and even NHS heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
