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 leaders 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 personnel noted The chick is an central ambassador for African penguins which were officially listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in zoo officers explained 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 leaders reported Since Cheyenne Mountain Zoo guests and members have contributed more than to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in sponsorship of African penguin conservation zoo representatives mentioned in the release Related Articles Denver jail launches first-of-its-kind visitation clothing operation for inmates One of Colorado s the bulk beautiful and largest part popular trails will close for majority of 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 undertaking for the African Penguin in Every visit to CMZoo is conservation in action representatives stated in the release Guests visiting CMZoo can see African penguins up close including this new chick knowing their visit helps endorsement a future for this species in the wild Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter