11 Vulnerable Penguin Chicks Hatch at English Zoo

Storyful

Eleven vulnerable penguin chicks hatched at a zoo in England, footage released on Thursday, May 30, shows.

Footage captured by the Chester Zoo in Chester, England, shows the 11 young Humboldt penguin chicks, who hatched between April 11 and April 18. The zoo said that this is the highest number of penguin chicks to hatch during “hatching season” at Chester Zoo in over 10 years.

The chicks are named after plants this year, with Nettle, Thistle, Dandelion, Tulip, Daffodil, and others joining the creche. Zookeepers said that each of the chicks has been nurtured beyond the first 40 days of life.

“We’re delighted to say that all of the chicks are looking really healthy, and the parents have done a superb job of caring for their new arrivals up to this point,” said Zoe Sweetman, Team Manager of Parrots and Penguins at Chester Zoo.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Humboldt penguins, which are native to the coasts of Chile and Peru, are classified as vulnerable. Credit: Chester Zoo via Storyful

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • 'Mysterious' carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters

    As shark season approaches in the UK, are you aware of the giant 400-year-old sharks that can be found in our waters?

  • Moose chased by bear stops to look back; ‘You still coming?’

    A wildlife biologist saw a moose and decided to take a short video. “It ended up being a better video than I expected,” Wes Larson said.

  • Scottish farmers damn wild beaver reintroduction policy

    As night falls in central Scotland, beavers appear in a pond under the fascinated gaze of a group of nature enthusiasts. - Natural engineers - There were almost 1,000 beavers in Scotland in 2020-21, according to NatureScot, the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage. 

  • Recent discoveries that have taken Earth's experts by surprise

    From incredible discoveries about the natural world to archaeological finds and new learnings about our solar system, here are some of the most fascinating breakthroughs scientists and researchers have made in the last few years.

  • Future of new oil and gas projects in UK thrown into doubt after landmark Supreme Court decision

    The future of new oil and gas projects in the UK has been thrown into doubt following a landmark decision by the Supreme Court. The court concluded the environmental impact of emissions from burning fossil fuels must be considered in planning applications for new extraction projects - not just the impacts of the emissions produced in extracting them. The case hinged around an oil drilling project at Horse Hill in Surrey, granted planning permission by Surrey County Council in 2019.

  • What is causing the dangerous heatwave in the US and will it affect the UK?

    The National Weather Service says the heatwave is ‘potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations’

  • Haj pilgrimage threatened as hundreds perish in heat

    STORY: Nearly 2 million Muslims will complete the haj pilgrimage this week, but extreme heat has been fatal for hundreds who started the journey last Friday, to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.According to reports, at least 562 people have died during the haj. Egypt has reported 307 deaths and 118 missing, with temperatures hitting over 124 degrees Fahrenheit.The haj's timing is based on the lunar year, moving back 10 days each year.While the haj is now moving towards winter, it will occur in the peak of summer in Saudi Arabia by the 2040s.Climate scientist Fahad Saeed says these deaths hint at future risks for millions of haj pilgrims."We need to prepare, we need to adapt, we need to introduce the adaptation option as much as we can. While realizing that it will compromise on the centuries old ritual, but still we need to save people. But at the same time, we must do climate action to stop the global warming at 1.5 degrees centigrade. At anything beyond that, we are putting those pilgrims at the risk of death."Heat-related deaths during the haj have been recorded since the 1400s.Pilgrims' vulnerability stems from exertion, exposure, and older age, as well as a simple lack of acclimatization to the heat.According to Saudi officials last year, more than 2,000 people suffered from heat stress during that haj.A 2021 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that if global temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels, heat stroke risk for haj pilgrims will increase by five times.Still, pilgrims remain determined - for some, it's a one-in-a-lifetime affair."Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is a mandatory duty for every capable person. So you have to exert efforts and get tired. Haj is a difficult task, so you have to exert efforts and perform the rituals even in the conditions of heat and crowding. You use an umbrella, drink water and pour it onto your body to prevent dehydration. And the water sprinklers in the walkways help."In 2016, Saudi Arabia implemented a heat strategy with shaded areas, water points at every 500 meters, and improved healthcare.Saudi health authorities advised pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during this year's haj.

  • UK weather: Temperatures set to rise - with some areas forecast to be as hot as Ibiza

    Warmer weather is on the way with the UK finally set to enjoy a spell of sunshine - as temperatures in some parts are expected to match those in Ibiza. While temperatures will likely hover at around 20C (68F) over the weekend, with highs of 24C (75F) in the south, Monday and Tuesday could be as hot as Ibiza in the southeast. It is forecast to be 25C (77F) on the sunny Spanish island at the start of next week, matching London and surrounding areas, with the Midlands and northwest a degree or two cooler.

  • Researchers believe nest study offers lifeline to under-threat capercaillie

    The study has shown putting meat put down close to nests increases their chances of survival by 83%

  • Nature's best-kept secrets: the most incredible plant finds of recent times

    Scientists continue to unearth new botanical discoveries regularly, with hundreds of new plant species found and identified in recent years alone. Here's a round-up of the latest discoveries in the world of plants, fungi and flora.

  • North Sea oil drilling threatened by landmark Supreme Court ruling

    The future of Britain’s oil and gas industry has been thrown into doubt after a landmark decision by the Supreme Court.

  • ‘This is like a slow death’: Environmental toll of Gaza war laid bare in first UN assessment

    The new assessment from UNEP follows a call from the State of Palestine to take stock of the environmental damage.

  • These are the 7 gardening jobs you need to be doing before June ends

    From planting summer flower beds to watering hanging baskets, there are plenty of jobs to do before the sunshine (hopefully) arrives.

  • The Iberian lynx is back from the brink of extinction, thanks to conservation efforts

    Things are looking up for the Iberian lynx. Just over two decades ago, the pointy-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, but as of Thursday the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it's no longer an endangered species. Successful conservation efforts mean that the animal, native to Spain and Portugal, is now barely a vulnerable species, according to the latest version of the IUCN Red List.

  • New world record set for residential solar panel

    Oxford PV pioneering the commercialisation of next-generation cells using ‘miracle material’ perovskite

  • Does the Coalition’s case for nuclear power stack up? We factcheck seven key claims

    Cheaper electricity, less emissions and ready by 2035 are some of the Coalition’s core promises on nuclear energy, but are they backed by evidence?

  • Squirrel pox contained in Sedbergh but more help is needed for 'fighting battle'

    Squirrel pox has been contained in a Sedbergh red squirrel colony however volunteers say it is a 'fighting battle'.

  • Delhi records hottest night ever as relentless heatwave claims five lives

    Need for cooling has increased the load on capital’s power grid with consumption soaring to a record 8,647mw this week

  • Glastonbury weather forecast: Latest Met Office update ahead of festival

    After a few years of beautiful sunny weekends in Somerset, will the weather hold out for Glastonbury 2024?

  • Birth of wildcat kittens in Kent wildlife park sparks hope for rarest UK mammal

    Wildwood Trust said the litter were born about nine weeks ago in a dedicated off-show breeding enclosure, to parents Talla and Blair.