Gulfarium growing penguins

OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. - The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has been busy caring for baby penguins. Since Dec. 20, three African penguins have hatched. Three more eggs are being monitored. Timmy was the first of the three that hatched in December, but two new penguins were born on Feb. 15 and 18. For the first three weeks, penguins live with an adult, but will be moved indoors until they get their waterproof feathers. After three months, penguins reach full height and weight. Timmy is now about to begin swimming lessons. The African penguin is an endangered species. To leave endangered status, there needs to be a lot of breeding to increase the population, said Bryan Martin, director of animal care and training at the Gulfarium. African penguins, known for their “tuxedo look,” are native to the coast of south Africa. “Their biggest threat is pollution and also overfishing,” Martin said. The Gulfarium is one of several facilities working to increase the numbers through breeding and genetic diversity. “We have to give them a chance to come back,” he said. (Source: NW Fla. Daily News 03/01/20)