The first Humboldt Penguin chick in the country which hatched in the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan Zoo also called the Byculla Zoo in Mumbai has died, the zoo said on Friday.
The baby penguin was born on August 15 night at Veermata Jijabai Udyan while India was celebrating its Independence Day.
After a week of being born, the chick died of new born anomalies on the night of August 22, it said.
The zoo had planned to add the newborn to the penguin colony. The chick was the first Humboldt penguin born in captivity at Mumbai’s Byculla zoo on this Independence Day.
Confirming the news, Dr Sanjay Tripathi, Director, Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan & Zoo in Mumbai had said “It appeared to be active and the mother was trying to feed it too.”
The news about the new-born chick was shared by Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray who tweeted, “We have some great news coming in from Rajmata Jijamaya Udyaan (Byculla Zoo)! Our (penguin) parents have delivered a freedom baby! The parents and the chic are doing well. My congratulations to all those involved in this process, especially Dr. Tripathi & his team and Sudhir Naik ji!” He also shared a video and named him ‘Freedom baby.”
The zoo has four female penguins and three male penguins. Six of the penguins have already paired up, and zoo officials are looking for a partner for the female penguin.
The seven Humboldt Penguins were brought from South Korea but one died.
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