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There's a new penguin chick at the Honolulu Zoo this holiday season

New chick Biscuit with one of its parents at the Honolulu Zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.
Courtesy Honolulu Zoo
New chick Biscuit with one of its parents at the Honolulu Zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.

There's a new penguin chick at the Honolulu Zoo this holiday season.

An African penguin chick named Biscuit hatched at the zoo to parents Barbara and Max on Nov. 15 — the first chick for both penguins.

Zookeeper Eric Lower says Biscuit is now the size of a pineapple.

"All the penguins are out in the enclosure together, the entire colony. Currently, the chick is just learning how to walk, and waddle around," Lower said.

"If you do come down to the zoo, you should be able to see it. It still hasn’t gone for its first swim. That typically occurs after about two months. So maybe another month or two – hopefully, it’ll go for its first swim, which should be exciting," he told Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Lower says the zoo has nine African penguins, including Max, Barbara and Biscuit.

He says four other penguins have paired up – and are now building nests.

African penguins are endangered and native to South Africa. They're the only penguin species found on the African continent, the zoo said.

Casey Harlow was an HPR reporter and occasionally filled in as local host of Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
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