Gentoo penguin chicks hatch at Edinburgh Zoo

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has shared images of the first tiny penguin chicks to have hatched this breeding season at Edinburgh Zoo.    

Three gentoo chicks have emerged so far and keepers at the wildlife conservation charity are hopeful more will follow in the coming weeks.    

Once again, the first to become parents were couple Muffin and Mittens, who welcomed the first chick of the year on 24 April. Male and female gentoo penguins usually mate with the same partner every year and take it in turns to incubate their eggs over 34 - 37 days.  

Gentoo chicks weigh around 98g when they hatch which is the equivalent to half an avocado.

Keen visitors will be able to spot the chicks being cared for by their parents at Edinburgh Zoo’s Penguins Rock, the largest outdoor penguin pool in Europe.

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