The holiday season just got cuter at Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid with the arrival of two Chinstrap penguin chicks. Hatched on Dec. 17 and Dec. 22, these fluffy bundles of joy are a must-see for visitors this winter.
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Christmas arrived early at Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid with the hatching of two Chinstrap penguin chicks, delighting both staff and guests. The cute newborns, born on December 17 and 22, join the facility's diversified penguin family in the South Atlantic Exhibit.
The first chick, weighing 182 grams on Christmas Eve, is being carefully cared for by parents Blue and Blanche. The second chick, weighing 114 grams, is prospering under the watchful eyes of Squawk and Dorothy.
"These chicks will remain with their parents on exhibit for about a month," noted Brooke Loewenthal, a biologist at Moody Gardens. "Once they become more active, they'll be moved to the back of the exhibit." Their fluffy down feathers are not yet waterproof, so close supervision is required to protect their safety near the exhibit's frigid waters.
While the chicks remain safe under their parents' care, visitors can get peeks at feeding periods or via the live penguin webcam.
Moody Gardens is home to 93 penguins of four species: King, Macaroni, Gentoo, and Rockhopper. The arrival of these two chicks complements the facility's excellent breeding program under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Visit Moody Gardens this Christmas season for a pleasant peek at these delightful new additions!
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