Three Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched at the Santa Barbara Zoo, marking the first penguin births at the zoo since 2018. The chicks are currently acclimating to their temporary home behind the scenes at the zoo.

Chick #1 hatched on March 23 to parents Pepper and Pinga.

Pepper, age 7, who was born at the Santa Barbara Zoo, is a fourth-generation penguin in the colony, continuing the legacy of his father Lucky, the famous penguin with a Teva shoe. Pinga, age 8, came from the Columbus Zoo.

This is Pepper’s and Pinga’s first chick and was co-reared initially, requiring special care from the zookeepers before the parents began feeding it.

Chick #2 and Chick #3 hatched on March 31 and April 2 respectively, and are siblings from parents Plum, 27, from SeaWorld San Diego (and an original Santa Barbara Zoo colony resident since 2006); and Jane, 11, from the Oregon Zoo. Both Plum and Jane are first-time parents.

Chick #2 was raised by its biological parents, while Chick #3 is being foster-reared by El Rey and Puff, both first-time parents from Woodland Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo, respectively.

Humboldt penguins normally lay two eggs, but in the wild, the second chick often does not survive. Fortunately, the Santa Barbara Zoo has the ability to foster the second egg to another pair so the birds have a chance to have parenting experience.

All parents feeding chicks are offered additional opportunities to eat throughout the day.

All three chicks, now over 30 days old, have begun “fish school.” During this time, their waterproof feathers will grow in and they will learn essential skills including swimming in a small pool. They will also be weaned from regurgitated fish to freshly thawed fish provided by the keepers.

In a few weeks, the young penguins will be ready to make their debut in the habitat, but first, adult penguins from the colony will meet the chicks behind the scenes, and the chicks will make visits to the penguin habitat.

After those experiences, the young penguins will be brought back to live with the colony. Guests will be able to tell them apart from the rest of the colony by their silver and white appearance; they won’t yet have the black “stripe” the adults have.

The penguin chicks play an important role in the sustainability of their species in human care, and are part of the AZA Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan, the zoo said.

Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Primary threats in their native range include entanglement in fishing nets; illegal capture for food, bait, and the pet trade; and historic over-harvesting of guano (needed by the birds for nesting) for fertilizer.

Community members can also help support the new penguin chicks by becoming Foster Feeder sponsors of the penguin flock. Foster Feeders at all levels will receive a personalized Foster Feeder certificate (includes honoree’s name and animal photo) and recognition on the Foster Feeder board at the Zoo. Various donation levels are available with different benefits.

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