African penguin chick hatches at Denver Zoo, to be introduced to public in early January

DENVER (KDVR) — An African penguin chick was successfully hatched at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance in October, and zoo workers plan to introduce the critically endangered animal to the public in early January.

Born Oct. 15, the feathered little one had to overcome a respiratory ailment in its fight for life. A penguin care specialist at the zoo said that the chick caught a "penguin cold," and because penguins lack an immune system when born (just as human babies), the chick needed extra support.

"In the wild, if a chick wasn't healthy, parents would abandon it and it would die," explained zoo spokesperson Jake Kubie. "Luckily, our animal health and care teams were able to support the little one and get it healthy again."

Ultimately, the penguin chick had to go to the ICU for treatment, where it received supplemental oxygen.

African penguins were determined to be critically endangered in July this year due to rapid population decline, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species citing commercial fisheries and climate changes as why the population has changed so rapidly. The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance participates in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, intending to maintain a sustainable population of the species within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facilities.

According to a zoo spokesperson, species survival plans are managed by the AZA, which matches animals with accredited organizations for breeding.

"The goal is to create the most genetically diverse assurance population of animal ambassadors possible in human care," explained Kubie. "We’re also proud to support African penguin conservation by partnering with amazing organizations like SANCCOB saves seabirds and Seafood Watch."

It won't be long now until the public will be able to meet the new chick, who doesn't yet have a name: After 60 to 130 days, the chick will be fully fledged, losing its fluffy down feathers and gaining juvenile waterproof feathers. That's also when the chick will be ready to be introduced to the public.

Zoo employees are waiting on a DNA test to see what sex the chick is, which will influence the name choices. The chick's parents, Guja and Keni, are a breeding pair from the Georgia Aquarium, who came to the Denver Zoo as part of a recommendation through the African Penguin Species Survival Plan.