How Zurita Got Her Groove Back
Brookfield Zoo has a long and storied history with these charismatic sea birds. The Living Coast exhibit was built specifically to address their specialized needs and it is the headquarters for the Humboldt penguin Species Survival Program (SSP). SSPs are cooperative breeding, education, and conservation programs among North American zoos. One goal of the Humboldt Penguin SSP is to make sure that their populations in zoos are genetically healthy—that there are enough animals from different families around to breed with each other. Dr. Patty McGill is the SSP coordinator; she monitors the health of the entire population living in zoos and aquariums, makes recommendations to zoos about pairing birds for mating, and often travels to their native home in South America to help the species in the wild where they face many problems. The harvesting of guano has reduced the number of places for penguins to nest, and that has reduced the number of Humboldt penguins. Some people collect penguins or their eggs to eat. And although they are experts when it comes to catching fish, penguins lose out when competing with the fishing industry. Penguins may also become entangled in fishing lines.

The Living Coast is home to two Humboldt penguin colonies. The colony in the Rocky Shores area of the exhibit is managed as a breeding group. The exhibit was designed to create the ideal conditions for penguin breeding and the SSP determines which individuals live and breed there to ensure a diverse genetic pool. Gazpacho and Zurita live in the Near Shore Waters section of the exhibit in a penguin colony that, for management reasons, is typically a nonbreeding group. Even though both birds represent very desirable genetic lines for the penguin population, breeding was not in the cards for the near future.

Biologists who study Humboldt Penguins list the sexual maturity age for these birds at three years, though some cases of two-year-old fathers have been reported. According to these previous records, it was inconceivable that Gazpacho could fertilize an egg. So, even after keepers saw the penguins mating, they did not separate the birds. Keepers were astounded to find that nature had taken its course when Zurita laid an egg soon after. Despite being almost a year younger than any penguin father on record, Gazpacho proved to be an exceptionally…mature…16-month old. He was set to be a father---and perhaps the youngest penguin daddy ever recorded in captivity.

Penguin Soap Opera - Page 2
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It Takes Two to Make a Chick Go Right
Zurita’s maternal instincts kicked in, and she began to incubate the egg immediately. She built a rock nest from materials that the keepers supplied (and things she grabbed out of the tank, like shark egg pods and some very unfortunate snails). Then she settled in for the 42-day incubation period in which the egg must be kept warm as the chick inside develops.

Incubating an egg is tough work. In reality, it takes two penguins: one must protect and warm the egg at all times while the other heads out to sea in search of large quantities of fish. Zurita tried to get Gazpacho to fulfill his paternal duty. She called out to him. She tried to entice him into the nest box. But Gazpacho was far more interested in playing with his buddies. Occasionally, he would come over, but he did not seem to know what to do. In the end, he just got in the way of Zurita and keepers, so he was moved in with the rest of the colony, where he kept in visual and vocal contact with his sweetheart.

The process of a chick breaking out of an eggshell is called “pipping,” and it can take two to four days. All the while, the chick vocalizes to its parents. These calls help to begin the bonding with the parents. Penguin chicks all look pretty similar, but each has its own unique call, which allows parents to know their offspring. Once the chick pipped, Zurita’s workload got even more strenuous! Since the chick represented two very important genetic lines, keepers decided to help pick up Gazpacho’s slack. Just like incubation, it takes two penguins to raise a chick, with one parent always staying to protect the chick while the other goes into the ocean in search of fish. Keepers stepped in and took on the role of hunter, giving Zurita fish so that she could stay in the nest box with her chick.

But she did not keep the fish for long. Zurita would share the fish with the chick in the normal penguin fashion----by regurgitating! Penguin chicks get sustenance by being a nuisance. They scream and peck at their parents, who eventually allow the chick to swallow partially digested fish from the parents’ mouth. Keepers give Zurita fish five times every day. In turn, she feeds the chick throughout the day and evening.

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