GALVESTON — A new addition has arrived at Moody Gardens’ penguin colony. According to a press release from Moody Gardens, a Macaroni penguin chick hatched on November 11 to parents Gorgonzola and Bleu. Weighing just 90 grams at birth, the chick is reported to be healthy and growing well under the care of the aquarium’s biologists.

Macaroni penguins are native to Sub-Antarctic regions and are considered vulnerable due to threats like climate change, overfishing, and changing ocean conditions, Moody Gardens noted. The chick’s arrival is part of ongoing efforts to support and maintain the health of the penguin colony.

The chick and its parents have been temporarily moved off exhibit to a quiet, controlled space, where staff will monitor the chick’s growth, conduct regular weight checks, and perform a DNA test to determine its sex. The young penguin is expected to grow its full set of adult feathers in about six weeks.

Moody Gardens’ Aquarium Pyramid is home to one of the most diverse penguin collections in the country, including Macaroni, Gentoo, Chinstrap, King, and Rockhopper penguins. Humboldt penguins are housed in a nearby warm-climate habitat, and the aquarium also features over 1.5 million gallons of water with species such as sharks, stingrays, seals, and sea lions.

_{Media Courtesy: Moody Gardens}