Our Little Penguin colony is set to grow with the exciting discovery of a new egg!
Keepers are hoping to hear the flip flop of little penguin feet after finding expectant mum Grolsh sitting on an egg last month.
The fifteen-year-old penguin has been livelier than normal, quickly letting keepers know to keep their distance when it comes to going near her nest.
Adelaide Zoo keeper Michelle Birkett said the egg was first noticed during a routine audit of the nesting boxes.
“Grolsh is a very experienced mum so we weren’t really surprised to find her sitting on eggs,” Michelle says.
“We’re hoping the egg will hatch into a healthy little chick sometime in the next week.
“At this stage our checks have suggested the egg is viable so we’re crossing our fingers!”
After the chick arrives, both Grolsh and dad Cooper will take turns carrying out the parenting duties with one standing guard and feeding the baby while the other socialises with members of the colony.
The chick will be raised solely by its parents until it’s around five weeks old, after which keepers will step in and lend a helping hand.
A tinier-than-normal penguin would be a great addition to our vibrant colony, as well as to the national breeding program for the species.
While wild Little Penguin populations are currently stable, they are under increasing pressure from ocean pollution and oil spills, as well as habitat loss and introduced predators like cats and dogs.
You can meet our gorgeous penguin colony during a behind the scenes Penguins in Person experience. Get right in the midst of the splashy action and get the chance to hand feed these gorgeous birds. Book here!
