Rosamond Gifford Zoo News: Penguin Chicks and Naming Contest

County Executive Joanie Mahoney Introduces Penguin Chicks, Announces Naming Contest

County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney joined the staff at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo today to announce the earlier-than-usual arrival of the zoo's Humboldt penguin chicks.

"I am pleased to announce that five penguin chicks have hatched at the zoo this year," said Mahoney. "It's always exciting when baby chicks are born, and so many in one year is great. We are fortunate to have such a thriving penguin program and the credit goes to our talented zoo staff."

Two chicks were introduced at a press conference including the first chick of the year, which hatched on January 9 to parents Wylie and Mara as well as the most recent hatchling, which arrived on January 17 to parents Frederico and Poquita. Three other chicks also hatched on January 13 to Mario and Montana, January 14 to Jake and Bianca and January 15 to Phil and Carmen. Over a seven year span, a total of 34 chicks have hatched.

"It appears our mild winter weather started the breeding season a bit earlier than usual.  It's very exciting to be talking about penguin chicks so early in the year; perhaps it means spring will be arriving soon," said Ted Fox, zoo director.  "It's wonderful that our zoo continues to play an important role in conserving  this species. Like the chicks before them, many of this year's babies will  eventually end up at other zoos around the country to continue populating the species."

Humboldt  penguins, named after the Humboldt Current a cold nutrient-rich ocean current that flows along the west coast of South America, are endangered with only 12,000 to 30,000 remaining in the wild.

Zoo staff asked the County Executive to name the youngest chick. In accordance with the tradition of giving the penguins Latin American names to reflect the culture of their native countries, Chile and Peru, she named the chick Cocotea.

After naming the chick, Mahoney announced the zoo would once again invite the public to help name one of the chicks.

Details on the penguin chick naming contest can be found on the zoo's website at www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/naming-contest.

History of the Zoo's Penguin Breeding Program:

Year & Number  of Chicks Hatched:

2006 – 4: Carlos, Diego, Montaña & Tierra
2007 – 5: Andrés, Nicolas, Raul, Sergio & Cuzco
2008 – 3: Horatio, Javier & Esperanza
2009 – 5: Pedro, Hugo, Marisol, Amaya & Viviana
2010 – 9: Esteban, Gabriela, Guillermo, JJ, Juntos, Veinte, Sonia, Eduardo & Beatriz
2011 – 3: Gisela, Santiago & Paddington
2012 – 5: (names TBD)

Total number of penguins currently  in the colony: 37, Males: 15, Females: 17, Undetermined: 5

Guidelines for penguin chick naming contest:

*Suggestions should be sent to contest@rosamondgiffordzoo.org and must be received by 4:00 p.m. on February  2.
*Entrants should include their name, age, address, phone number, e-mail address, name suggestion and reason for their choice.
*The contest is open to those 5 and  older.
*Since the gender of the baby has not yet been determined, contestants may submit two names: one for a boy and one for a girl.
*Given the native habitat of Humboldt  penguins, names of Spanish origin are preferred and strongly encouraged.
*A committee at the zoo will select the top names (minimum five) of those suggested.
*The top five names will be posted on  the zoo's web site rosamondgiffordzoo.org) from February 9 through 16.
*The winning name will be announced  at the zoo on February 17.

The chick will remain under the care of its parents until mid-April before it is weaned. It will join the rest of the colony in early summer.

Names already in use or previously used for penguins at the zoo:

Alejandro
Amaya
Andres
Beatriz
Belleza
Bianca
Carlos
Carmen
Cocotea
Cuzco
Danta
Diego
Eduardo
Esperanza
Esteban
Evita
Frederico
Fuzzy
Gabriela
Gisela
Guillermo
Horacio
Hugo
Jake
Javier
JJ
Jorge
Jose
Juan
Juanita
Juntos
Lola
Mara
Mario
Marisol
Mateo
Montana
Nero
Nicolas
Paddington
Pedro
Phil
Pilar
Poquita
Raul
Santiago
Sergio
Sonia
Tierra
Veinte
Viviana
Wylie

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