The Lincoln Children's Zoo has officially named one of its newest residents, a Humboldt penguin chick that will soon be visible to the public.
On Thursday, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird introduced Percy, a female chick that was born on April 4 and is the second penguin ever hatched in the zoo.
The first Humboldt penguin, Pebbles, hatched in May 2021.
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At Percy’s two-month health check this week, she weighed 3.1 kilograms, up from 61.8 grams on her hatch date. She’s currently going through her first molting process, where her baby feathers shed and adult, waterproof feathers take their place.
“We're delighted to welcome Percy, our newest resident of the quality-of-life capitol of the country,†Gaylor Baird said. “I encourage Lincoln families to come meet Percy and enjoy all that our wonderful Lincoln Children’s Zoo has to offer.â€
Zoo guests will be able to see Percy in a couple weeks after her molting process is complete and her adult feathers have grown in. She will be outside in the Penguin Pool with her parent penguins, Sharkbait and John Henry.
Humboldt penguins face a high risk of extinction in the wild, as they are listed as vulnerable on the International Union Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species.
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Sarah Woodhouse, director of animal health and conservation at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, holds Percy, a female Humboldt penguin chick, as Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird does a health check on Tuesday.
Percy, a female Humboldt penguin chick at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, is currently going through her first molting process, where her baby feathers shed and adult, waterproof feathers take their place.