Penguin Pal: A Hatchling’s Journey at the Lincoln Children’s ZOO

by Erin Lenz

A new Humboldt penguin has joined the colony! On April 4, 2024, a female Humboldt penguin chick named Percy hatched at Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Percy is the second penguin chick to hatch at Lincoln Children’s Zoo in its history, following Pebbles, who hatched in May 2021. 

Humboldt penguins typically hatch between 43 and 48 days after an egg is laid. Mom, Sharkbait, and dad, John Henry, were both very attentive during this incubation period. They took turns keeping the egg warm by sitting on it in the nest box they prepared. Percy began pipping (when a chick’s beak breaks through the membrane of its shell) on April 3 and officially came out of her shell on April 4. 

For the first couple of months after Percy hatched, Sharkbait and John Henry guarded their chick, keeping her warm and feeding her by regurgitating partially digested food into her mouth. The Zoo’s keeper and veterinarian staff carefully monitored Percy and parents during this time and weighed her daily to make sure she was healthy and progressing well. 

Percy was introduced to the pool for the first time at the end of June once all of her adult waterproof feathers had developed. Under the supervision of her zookeepers, Percy was able to explore and practice in shallow water in the behind-the-scenes pool. Her natural instincts kicked in immediately and she was swimming throughout the entire pool in no time. Shortly after that she was introduced to the main outdoor pool and introductions were made to the rest of the penguins in the colony. 

LCZ plays an important role in animal conservation and protecting species from extinction. Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable on the International Union Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, meaning they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Percy’s birth is important in furthering the conservation of this vulnerable species. 

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan Program. The program develops a Breeding and Transfer Plan which identifies population goals and recommendations to manage a genetically diverse, demographically varied, and biologically sound population. The plan’s coordinators approved breeding recommendations for the Zoo’s penguins Sharkbait and John Henry.

Percy is moved in with the rest of the penguin colony and can be seen at the Penguin Pool. How can you tell which penguin is Percy? Each penguin at Lincoln Children’s Zoo wears a colored band around their wing flipper. The male penguins have a colored band on their right wing flipper and females have a colored band on their left. Check out the Penguin name sign at the Penguin Pool to find which color band corresponds to which penguin! Percy also participates in the animal encounter, Eat that Fish, where keepers feed the penguins twice daily at 11am and 3pm. 

Lincoln Children’s Zoo is open year-round. Stop by and visit the Zoo to feed a giraffe, climb with spider monkeys, ride the train, or meet Percy the penguin!