Penguin keepers hand-feeding the gentoo chick (left) and Pascale the rescued rockhopper penguin (right). -MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
SINGAPORE: Christmas has come early for the Bird Paradise’s penguin colony, with the arrival of three new feathered members.
The Mandai Wildlife Group on Dec 5 announced its first successful hatching of a pair of gentoo chicks, along with the arrival of a rescued northern rockhopper from Australia.
Housed at the Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove, the gentoo penguin chicks were hatched two days apart to first-time parents Riki and Peach.
However, the penguin parenthood journey was not without some bumps.
While their first chick, which hatched on Nov 25, thrived under its parents’ care, keepers noticed that the second chick was being underfed.
“Riki and Peach may not have the experience to successfully raise two chicks simultaneously. This is a natural challenge for first-time parents, even in the wild, where only one chick often survives,” said Anais Tritto, Mandai Wildlife Group’s assistant vice-president.
To ensure the second chick’s survival, Tritto said that the penguin care team had to intervene.
The eight-day-old penguin was removed from the nest to be hand-raised in the research room, located on the third floor of the attraction.
The public can view it during scheduled feeding times.
The first chick will remain with its parents and visitors can occasionally catch a glimpse of it as it grows stronger, the Mandai Wildlife Group said.
It added that their gender will be determined through DNA analysis of their feathers after their first moult, which typically occurs several months post-hatching.
Known for their speed in the water, the gentoo penguin is a medium-sized species with a distinctive white head stripe and bright orange beak.
They often gather pebbles to build their nests and attract potential mates. Once an egg is laid, both parents will take turns incubating it for about 30 days, while waiting for signs of hatching.
“The successful hatching of gentoo chicks is a first for us and represents an important milestone,” said Tritto, adding that this was an indication that the penguins are doing well at the habitat.
Riki and Peach arrived in Singapore in 2023 under a partnership between Japan’s Toyohashi Zoo & Botanical Park (Non Hoi Park) and the Mandai Wildlife Group.
Meanwhile, Pascale, a one-year-old female northern rockhopper penguin, is set to make her debut in the penguin habitat in the second week of December after a two-week isolation.
She was rescued in February after being found washed ashore in Western Australia, far from her typical sub-Antarctic range in the Southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
After months of rehabilitation at Perth Zoo, she arrived in Singapore on Nov 28.
The Mandai Wildlife Group noted that the specialised cold saltwater habitat at the Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove is well suited to meet the long-term needs of the species under human care.
Pascale will be first released in a corral area to facilitate her social integration into the group.
She will then be introduced to Pierre, the park’s only other northern rockhopper, in the hopes of forming a pair bond to support conservation efforts.
“We are excited to welcome Pascale and our charming gentoo penguin chicks to the family. Pascale’s arrival marks a new chapter for Pierre and we look forward to seeing how they would interact and bond,” Tritto said.
Northern rockhoppers are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List due to threats such as climate change, habitat degradation, and reduced food availability.
Known for their striking yellow-orange crests and remarkable jumping ability, they are among the rarest penguin species, making Pascale and Pierre important ambassadors of their kind.
Bird Paradise, which opened in May 2024, is now home to more than 30 penguins across four species – gentoo, humboldt, king and northern rockhopper.
Previously, the penguins resided at Jurong Bird Park, which closed its doors in January 2023 after more than 50 years of operation. - The Straits Times/ANN
