Chessington World of Adventures Resort Announces the arrival of Five Humboldt Penguin Chicks

Recently, Chessington World of Adventures Resort reopened its gates to welcome guests back after the easing of ’lockdown’, but visitors weren’t the only arrivals…

The family-favourite Resort has welcomed five new chicks to its colony of Humboldt penguins, a vulnerable species typically found along the coasts of Chile and Peru. In a year in which its Zoo reaches 90 years since first opening, the hatchlings come as a result of the Resort’s breeding programme, which aims to increase the number of the vulnerable creatures that call Chessington home.

Humboldt penguins typically mate for life, choosing a partner and forming a strong connection that lasts their entire lives. This year, five different couples in the colony whose members range from 22 months to 25 years old, successfully hatched a chick. Penguins Cooper and Kon’s chick hatched April 16; Caleta and Inti’s, April 19; Poco and Atl’s, April 21; Barnicle and Nautilus, April 26 and Kammy (named after ex-footballer, Chris Kamara, following a visit last year in which the now presenter bonded with the colony of penguins) and Junior’s on May 7 – the chicks are still to be named.

Sam Whitbread, Zoo Collections Manager at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, commented: “It’s so wonderful to welcome these new arrivals to Chessington and we’re overjoyed with their progress so far. In the wild, Humboldt penguins are a vulnerable species, so our breeding programme is particularly important to us and we look forward to introducing the chicks to our guests, especially in a year when we mark 90 years since the Zoo first opened.”