‘Fluffy’ endangered penguin chicks hatch at Michigan zoo. See the loving pair
With their flippers wrapped around each other, two penguin chicks recently hatched at a Michigan zoo, marking a moment of hope for their species.
The African penguin chicks hatched just before Christmas, but the news of their birth was announced March 11 on the Saginaw Children’s Zoo’s Facebook page.
Both penguins are male and were born to first-time parents Blake and Melody, the zoo said. They hatched right before Christmas and will make their public debut in the exhibits this spring.
While the “fluffy” penguins have started to grow and show their personalities, they still don’t have names, the zoo said.
The zoo shared four options on its website — and is asking people to cast their votes before March 20:
Eggs Benedict (Benny) and Quiche (Kyle)
Flip and Flop
Damien and Scramble
Omelet and Hamlet
African penguins are a critically endangered species, according to the zoo. Their population has dropped by 70% in the last 100 years as their habitats have been destroyed and the climate changes, the zoo said.
The species is native to Namibia and South Africa, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Today, fewer than 20,000 African penguins remain, the organization said.
Saginaw is about a 100-mile drive northwest from Detroit.
