Baby boom of African penguin chicks hatches at a San Francisco science museum
ABC News
A bounty of 10 African penguin chicks has hatched in just over a year at a San Francisco science museum
SAN FRANCISCO -- A bounty of 10 African penguin chicks has hatched in just over a year at a San Francisco science museum as part of an effort to conserve the endangered bird.
The penguins began hatching in November 2022, ending a four year period without any new chicks, and continued through January of this year, the California Academy of Sciences announced Wednesday.
African penguins have dwindled to 9,000 breeding pairs in the wild, the academy said in a statement.
Threats such as overfishing, habitat degradation and oil spills have reduced colonies of the charismatic black-and-white birds, said Brenda Melton, director of animal care and well-being at the museum's Steinhart Aquarium.
“Every chick we welcome strengthens the genetics and overall population of the species in human care,” she said.
