The fuzzy new additions make the eighth straight year that Moody Gardens has successfully bred a Gentoo penguin at its South Atlantic exhibit in the Aquarium Pyramid.
The penguins currently weigh in at 165 and 344 grams. Tests will be taken at a later date to determine the gender of the birds. The chicks are expected to become full-grown in about eight weeks.
Their parents are informally named Stimpy and Porky. The pair has had penguin chicks in the past but these chicks are the first of the season. The new chicks will be named in a Moody Gardens' Facebook fan page contest to be launched today.
Adult Gentoo Penguins have distinctive white patches above the eye area and white speckling in the adjacent black plumage around their heads. They also have yellow feet, making them unique in the Moody Gardens collection.
As a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Moody Gardens will send some of the chicks to other institutions when they mature enough.
Until then, the small, fuzzy critters will be seen on exhibit with the other Moody Gardens penguins. The public can watch the penguins the Aquarium Pyramid or on the Live Penguin Cam at MoodyGardens.com.
For more information, call 1-800-582-4673 or visit MoodyGardens.org.
