A pair of gay male Humboldt penguins, Scampi and Flounder, have become proud parents at Chester Zoo in England after stepping in to help raise one of two eggs laid by another penguin couple, Wotsit and Peach.

The zoo’s bird care experts made the careful decision to share the eggs between the two nests to give each chick the best possible start. This method increases the likelihood of successful fledging, a crucial step in the chicks’ early development.

Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at the zoo, expressed her delight at the progress of the new arrivals. “It’s fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme,” Sweetman said. “The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged!”

 

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She went on to share a particularly heart-warming update: “They’re now days away from a really exciting milestone – their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.”

Eight of the 10 chicks have already been given celestial-themed names by their keepers, inspired by stars and wonders of the night sky. The young penguins have been named Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair, and Xena. The final two chicks remain unnamed, with the public invited to take part in a naming competition on Instagram. You can join in here.

Humboldt penguins, native to the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. These birds face increasing threats in the wild, including climate change, rising ocean temperatures, and overfishing, all of which reduce their access to food. The resulting longer foraging journeys make survival more difficult for both adults and their chicks.

Chester Zoo’s penguin colony plays a crucial role in the international breeding programme for the species. Their efforts help to maintain a healthy population of Humboldt penguins in conservation-focused zoos across Europe, and heart-warming stories like those of gay penguins Scampi and Flounder show just how important and rewarding this work can be.