Critically endangered penguin chick hatches at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

An African penguin chick made its grand debut at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs earlier this month hatching from its egg on April Waddle we do with all this cuteness zoo representatives wrote in an Instagram post announcing the chick s arrival At days old the zoo s newest baby weighs just over two pounds according to the news release The chick weighed only one-fifth of a pound when it first hatched A new African penguin chick hatched at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is days old Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Visitors can spot or hear the chick in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo s penguin building in Water s Edge Africa While it s usually snuggled in the nest guests might see it wriggle out or hear it peeping zoo representatives reported The chick is an pivotal ambassador for African penguins which were officially listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in zoo functionaries noted in a news release Less than breeding pairs of African penguins remain in the wild If current trends continue these charismatic birds could be extinct in the wild by zoo personnel commented Since Cheyenne Mountain Zoo guests and members have contributed more than to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in promotion of African penguin conservation zoo administrators noted in the release Related Articles Denver jail launches first-of-its-kind visitation clothing operation for inmates One of Colorado s the greater part beautiful and majority of popular trails will close for greater part of the summer Live updates Colorado Senate approves small kei cars for Colorado roads hospital showdown drags on Despite snowpack concerns Colorado rafting industry expects plenty of water to ride Fort Carson soldier arrested on drug charges tied to raid of illegal nightclub The Colorado Springs zoo also joined the American Zoo Association s Saving Animals From Extinction project for the African Penguin in Every visit to CMZoo is conservation in action agents stated in the release Guests visiting CMZoo can see African penguins up close including this new chick knowing their visit helps promotion a future for this species in the wild Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter