Maryland Zoo Welcomes Eight Critically-Endangered African Penguin Chicks

BALTIMORE, MD – The largest population of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in North America is growing! The Maryland Zoo has successfully hatched eight critically-endangered African penguin chicks this breeding season. Continuing an annual tradition, penguin zookeepers have selected a theme for the chicks’ names.

This year, the chicks are being named after fruits adn vegetables. The Zoo has announced the first two names: Kiwi and Cayenne, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Breeding season at the Zoo begins in mid-September and lasts until the end of February, mirroring the spring-to-summer breeding season for these birds in their native South Africa and Namibia.

“The number of African penguins in the wild is dropping,” said Maryland Zoo Bird Curator.