Tennessee Aquarium Celebrates Second Penguin Chick of the Summer Season

10 hours ago

Gino Devaney,

Photo credit: Tennessee Aquarium – Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Veterinarian Dr. Leah Owens holds a recently hatched Gentoo Penguin during the first of its regular tri-weekly checkups. At one day old, the chick weighed 101 grams, about 3.5 ounces. A month later, it had increased in size by more than 2,700% to more than 2.7 kilograms (about 6 pounds).

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The Tennessee Aquarium has announced the successful hatching of its second penguin chick of the summer season, continuing a period of exciting growth among its penguin colony. The new Gentoo penguin chick was born on July 17th to parents Blue and Flower, who are experienced breeders at the Aquarium. The couple previously hatched another chick, Carla, in 2021, demonstrating their ongoing dedication to parenting.

The recent chick is currently about one month old and, despite a rocky start, is thriving. Young penguins must grow rapidly to survive the challenging conditions of their native Antarctic habitats, and this chick is no exception. At just a month old, it already weighs over 2.7 kilograms—an incredible increase from its initial weight of just 101 grams (roughly the size of a bar of soap). This rapid growth rate underscores the importance of proper care, which the Aquarium’s veterinary and animal care teams provided after the chick faced initial difficulties.

The chick initially struggled to hold its head up and feed properly, prompting round-the-clock care and feeding sessions for nearly a week. Thanks to this intervention, the chick has now gained weight at a typical rate for its species and is developing normally. While its parents tried to care for it, the challenges it faced highlighted the necessity of human assistance to ensure its survival.

In line with standard protocol, the newly hatched chick has been kept in a separate holding room away from the main colony to protect it from potential aggression and infighting among nesting birds during this sensitive period. As it approaches about 70 days old, it will undergo a “swim test” to confirm its ability to float and swim independently—an essential step before it can join the rest of the colony in Penguins’ Rock. The younger chick will follow a few weeks later once it is deemed ready.

Fans of the penguins are encouraged to mark their calendars for a baby penguin shower at the Aquarium on September 13th, where the new chicks will be celebrated. Additionally, the public will have the opportunity to bid on naming rights for each chick during the Aquarium’s annual online fundraiser beginning September 15th. Funds raised through this event support the Aquarium’s conservation initiatives, animal care, and educational programs.

For those interested in observing the colony’s growth, live streaming of Penguins’ Rock is available via EPB Fiber Optics at tnaqua.org/livestream/penguins-rock/, providing an up-close view of the adorable chicks and their parents as they grow and develop.