PHOTOS: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Celebrates the Arrival of Four African Penguin Chicks

On Saturday, October 13 (just in time for African Penguin Awareness Day), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will celebrate the arrival of four penguin chicks to the rookery. The hatchlings will appear intermittently in the Animal Care Center between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, where guests can watch as the zoo team provides for the young birds.

Ultimate penguin fans can also book a Penguin Insider Tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating warm-weather flock that calls Busch Gardens Tampa Bay home.

This year’s babies are the largest group of penguin chicks that has ever hatched at Busch Gardens. At this stage in their development, the young chicks are expected to eat 60% of their body weight each day to ensure proper growth. Varying in age from two to four weeks old, the chicks are under 24 hour supervision with the animal care team at Busch Gardens.

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As one of the largest zoos in the country, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s animal care team plays a vital role in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for a number of endangered species. The African penguin is endangered in the wild, largely due to habitat loss caused by humans. Each baby animal at the park sparks new hope for their species as they bring awareness to the plight of their wild counterparts.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund supports research and conservation projects, including initiatives that directly benefit African penguins and Bornean orangutans. To learn more about these projects, guests can visit the fund’s website for additional information.

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