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Six Magellanic penguin chicks waddled their way to their new home on Penguin Island as part of an annual ritual, March of the Penguins, at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens on Saturday, August 8, 2020. The chicks, five males and one female, were hatched May 19 and initially reared by their parents or foster parents before being sent to “fish school,” where they were taught how to swim, eat whole fish and socialize with their caretakers. During March of the Penguins, the chicks were guided by animal care staff to ensure their journey was a smooth one before entering Penguin Island’s 200-foot-long pool and habitat.
The annual March of the Penguins is one of SF Zoo’s most popular events. But this year the pandemic forced a scaled-down version that was held today as a fundraiser with a limited number of invited guests lined up to watch the march in socially distant circles. During the past two weeks, a naming contest open to Zoo members and the general public also helped raise additional funds. At today’s event, winning names for two male chicks were randomly drawn ― “Talented Mr. Slippery” and “Rookie.” The six new additions bring the total number of Magellanic penguins at the zoo to 56 individuals.
Information about the event was provided by Nancy Chan, Director of Communications for the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens.