Loro Parque has welcomed 2022, the year in which it celebrates its 50th anniversary, with the arrival of numerous penguin chicks of different species: nine papuans, two rockhoppers and a chinstrap, which shows how successful their breeding season has been and the state of well-being of the animals in their facilities.
The most delicate chicks have been kept in a period of artificial incubation
Nowadays, Papuans can be seen alongside their parents in the exhibit, while the other three specimens can be seen in the Baby Penguin, where they are being cared for by the Planet Penguin team, as the species are much more delicate. In fact, its birth is considered a great success because its reproduction is a real challenge.
After this first period of artificial incubation of the young rockhopper and chinstrap, the Baby Penguin’s temperature will gradually drop and then its socialization period will begin, a progressive introduction to the facility so that they become familiar little by little until they fully integrate into the group.
These births augur a good year at the Loro Parque penguin colony, where every detail matters and, in addition to recreating their natural habitat with the 12 tons of snow that fall on the enclosure daily, the normal light cycles of Antarctica are also respected , now recreating the polar spring, a time of great light and long days.
The work of zoos, key to the conservation of penguins
According to the Tenerife Zoo in a statement, contrary to what happens every year at the Loro Parque facilities, many individuals in the wild are not reproducing due to the stress of changes in their environment. Unfortunately, the reduction of the icy space in which they live or the absence of fish to feed on prevent any guarantee of raising their offspring.
That is why scientific work acquires so much value ex situ carried out in zoological institutions, because very valuable data is generated for the conservation of the different species that are key in cases of rescues due to natural catastrophes or for the design of nature conservation plans.
At Loro Parque, visitors can learn about these species and the threats they face in the natural environment, becoming aware of how important it is to contribute to their protection.
