SF Zoo’s Adorable “March of the Penguins” Welcomes 5 Penguin Chicks
Saturday was the day for the annual — and very popular — March of the Penguins at the San Francisco Zoo.
The March of the Penguins is one of the zoo’s most popular events. This morning, five adorable Magellanic penguin chicks — two females and three males which hatched between mid-April and May — took their graduation walk, or waddle, past hundreds of excited zoo guests before taking their ceremonious first swim at their new home on Penguin Island.
The penguin chicks graduated from what zoo officials call “fish school,” where they were taught how to eat whole fish, swim and socialize with their caretakers. They will join the zoo’s 54 resident penguins, bringing the total population on Penguin Island to 59.
Four of the five chicks have already been named: one by the guest of honor, the Consul General of Ukraine (San Francisco), Kushneruk Dmytro, who chose the name, “Nadiya”, for one of the females, and was present to see the march with his family. He met a Ukrainian mother and her children, who were the zoo’s special guests.
Two penguins were named “Handy Harry” and “Princess Cecilia” by a zoo donor. A fourth name is a nod to the penguins’ Chilean roots, “Agua,” highlighting the importance of water. The final name is to be determined.
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Welcome to Penguin Island! Our newest Magellanic penguin chicks made their way back home after graduating from Fish School! Thanks to everyone who came to cheer them on during March of the Penguins! pic.twitter.com/EVYlK84KxU
— San Francisco Zoo (@sfzoo) August 6, 2022
🐧Our two female and three male penguin chicks are ready to waddle their way to their home on Penguin Island tomorrow during #MarchOfThePenguins! The event starts at 10:15 but gates open to Members at 9:30. Reserve your spot: https://t.co/ipZIr5oS2u pic.twitter.com/UtBZJo5t8T
— San Francisco Zoo (@sfzoo) August 5, 2022