Chester Zoo Celebrates Same-Sex Penguin Couple Raising a Unique Chick

At Chester Zoo in the UK, a pair of male Humboldt penguins named Scampi and Flounder have taken on the nurturing role for a new chick.

This chick is part of a group of 10 newborns from what zoo staffer Zoe Sweetman calls an exceptional year for their penguins. With the Humboldt species being among the world's 17 threatened penguin species, conservation efforts are vital. Currently, the colony at Chester Zoo consists of 63 penguins.

Eggs laid by the pair Wotsit and Peach were distributed between their nest and that of Scampi and Flounder by Chester Zoo specialists.

"Our avian experts evenly allocated the eggs among the nests, aiming to provide both chicks with the best start possible to enhance the success of fledging," the zoo detailed in a publication.

After a 40-day incubation period, a penguin egg typically takes an additional three days to hatch.

Though this is a first for Scampi and Flounder, other instances of same-sex penguin couples parenting exist. Such include a 2018 case in Australia and another in 2020 at a Spanish aquarium. In 2022, a male couple in the U.S. also embraced parenthood.

Penguin parents jointly manage feeding and care. At Chester Zoo, caretakers supply fish which the adults consume, turning into a high-protein mix to regurgitate for the chicks.

From the recent arrivals, eight penguins have been christened since hatching in April. Inspired by celestial bodies, names such as Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair, and Xena were selected.

Input from social media will determine the names of the remaining chicks, including the one cared for by Scampi and Flounder, whose gender is still unknown.

Since hatching, the fluffy young penguins have experienced a substantial growth spurt, nearly quadrupling in size.

"They're approaching a thrilling developmental stage — their inaugural swimming lessons, which always promises excitement as they first encounter the water," Sweetman remarked.

Hailing from South America, Humboldt penguins face threats from food scarcity and loss of habitat. Their population has plummeted by roughly 85% over the past four decades.

The Chester Zoo penguin community is integral to an international breeding program, aiding in the preservation of a genetically robust penguin population across European conservation facilities.

Living off small fish and crustaceans as carnivores, these penguins spend the bulk of their time swimming. Their average lifespan ranges from 12 to 15 years, although, under human care, they can thrive for up to two decades. Weights fluctuate based on diet and molting, with penguins measuring around two feet in stature.

Regular monitoring of chick growth involves weighing them as part of their developmental check.