The Royal Penguins that arrived at the Sea Life aquarium in Marne la Vallée last August have acclimated very well to their new environment. The proof is the surprise birth of a baby Royal Penguin less than 6 months after their installation.
We had already announced it to you last year, the Sea Life Aquarium opened last summer a unique penguin house in the Paris region which successively welcomed between July and August 2017, 14 penguins and 5 royal penguins born in captivity. This new adventure that plays on the 5 senses, plunges young and old through Antarctica to discover the environment of penguins, their daily life, their behaviors and the southern climate.
It was on November 27, 2017, just a few months after the arrival of the royal penguins in the penguin house, that the aquarium's caretakers had the pleasant surprise to discover that one of the royal females, Phoebe, had laid an egg.
Royal eggs are pear-shaped and measure about 10cm x 7cm and weigh about 300g. Unlike Papuan penguins which generally lay their eggs two by two, the female Royal Penguin lays only one egg during her reproductive cycle.
Once the egg is laid, the mother performs a small acrobatic turn by translating it forward in order to deposit it on her legs. Her instinct allows her to avoid as much as possible the contact between the egg and the ground to prevent any risk of freezing or breaking. Thus protected on the legs and covered by a fold of abdominal skin, the egg is thus well with the heat (with approximately 38°C) and ready to be incubated under the best conditions.
After 55 days spent in this way with its mother, the egg finally hatched, giving life to a small chick without plumage and dark gray in color on January 19, 2018.
Usually, both parents are involved in raising the chick for 1.5 to 2 months. But in this case, Phoebe, the young mom who had her very first child, did it all by herself during both the brooding and then the first few weeks of care and feeding. The supposed father, Joey, did not take on his role, preferring to go about other business with the penguin group.
Noting the father's failure to fulfill his obligations, a second male, with the gentle name of Ross, became interested in the chick during its second week of life. After some initial bonding, vocalizing and bowing, Phoebe allowed Ross to take charge of the chick. Under the amused glance of the aquariologists who could observe the transfer of the baby thanks to cameras of control.
With the support of Ross, Phoebe was able to take advantage of it to dive again in the basin, to renew the social links with the group of royal penguins, to take back weight and energy.
As for the sex of the child, it is not known yet, but the Internet users, who were invited to vote among several proposals of name on theFacebook pageof the aquarium, chose to call him Flocon.
Elodie Gossuin, the godmother of this baby penguin says she is honored and intends to check on him regularly! By the way, you too can attend the daily weighing of this penguin to follow his evolution!
Click here to see the pictures:
Location
Aquarium Sea Life Paris
14 Cours du Danube
77700 Serris
Access
RER A - Val d'Europe
Prices
billet journée: €14.5
Official website
www.facebook.com
Booking
www.visitsealife.com
