Magellanic penguin chicks born one after another (Joetsu City Aquatic Museum Umigatari)

2022.5.26

umigatariMagellanic penguinsJoetsu CityNaoetsu

To meet the healing system of the waddling.

Magellanic penguin chicks were born again this year at the Umigatari Aquatic Museum in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, and visitors can see the parents raising their young up close.

The Magellanic penguins have entered the breeding season at Umigatari, and hatching began in early May. By the 23rd of this month, 12 chicks were born, and the parent penguins can be seen feeding the chicks.

Visitors
I love the way he waddles around.

I could see that they cared for them just like we do.

 Due to an outbreak of avian influenza in Saitama Prefecture last December, Umitari moved its outdoor Magellanic penguins to an indoor facility to prevent the spread of infection. As a result, the breeding season started about 10 days later than usual.

Sea Tales by Mai Murakami
The parent penguins take turns warming the chicks in their burrows and caring for them with great affection. The chicks are wrapped in unique feathers called cotton feathers for about two months after they are born, so we hope you will see their cute appearance, which can only be seen now.

Including the chicks born this time, there are more than 120 Magellanic penguins in Umitari. Including the chicks born this time, there are more than 120 Magellanic penguins at Umiatari, the largest number in Japan. The hatching of Magellanic penguins will continue, and the number of penguins in captivity is expected to increase further.