12 baby penguins of threatened species are born at Loro Parque

Four rockhopper and eight gentoo penguin pups have been born at Loro Parque in Tenerife, which considers their reproduction a success for the conservation of the species, as they are threatened in their natural habitat in Antarctica, due to the effect of climate change on marine circulation and glaciers.

In a press release, they said that the birth of these specimens is "a magnificent result" for the reproduction programs of Loro Parque, which has already produced offspring of all penguin species, and are predicting more births of other species in the spring.

The young gentoos are next to their parents in the Planet Penguin exhibition, while the baby rockhopper penguins are being monitored by Loro Parque vets in the Baby Penguin section, both because of the delicacy of the species and because of the great challenge that their reproduction has entailed.

During this first stage of incubation, the rockhopper chicks will be cared for in the Baby Penguin breeding station, whose temperature will gradually adapt to begin the process of integration with the rest of the group.

In order for these animals to gradually introduce themselves successfully, Loro Parque reproduces the same conditions that they have in their natural environment, recreating their habitats with 12 tons of falling snow every day, and the daily light cycles of Antarctica and the polar spring, characterized by a lot of light and long days.

Gentoo penguins, native to the sub-Antarctic islands and Antarctica, are considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as “least concern”.

For their part, the rockhoppers, typical of Antarctica, are considered to be “vulnerable” since their population has decreased drastically since 1950.

Loro Parque works together with other animal sanctuaries for their conservation through human care.