Birdland Park and Gardens in Gloucestershire is celebrating a significant avian event: the hatching of the first king penguin chick in the United Kingdom since 2014. The chick, which weighed 188 grams (6.6 ounces) at birth, is currently being hand-reared by park staff.
The egg, laid by parents French and Frank, had to be moved to an incubator by keepers for safety reasons. Staff noted that the chick has already faced several challenges, including navigating the recent heatwave. Alistair Keen, head of living collection at the park, remarked on the dedication of the team, stating, "While everyone else has been talking about how to keep cool this summer, we've spent the past few weeks concentrating on one very important little penguin."
Keen added, "There's a long way to go and we won't be taking anything for granted, but we're delighted with the progress so far." The successful hatching marks a milestone for the park, as it is the first king penguin chick to be born in the UK in 12 years.
