The Adventure Aquarium in Camden has welcomed two African penguin chicks.
The two chicks, named Oscar and Duffy, mark the 51st and 52nd hatchlings at the facility as part of ongoing captive breeding efforts and conservation efforts crucial to reversing the rapid decline of the species. Oscar and Duffy were born in the first week of November and are expected to be exhibited in late winter or early spring.
“There are several factors that determine when Oscar and Duffy will be ready to go on exhibit,” Assistant Curator of Birds and Mammals Amanda Egen told PhillyVoice. “The biggest milestone is losing their down feathers and developing their waterproof feathers. Weather also plays a role, as even if they’re physically ready, it may still be too cold for them to be outside.”
Duffy is named in honor of longtime aquarium staff member Jen Duffy, while Oscar is named after the Oscar Mayer hot dog brand — an acknowledgment of his parents, Myer and Cornelia, who is also known as Corn Dog.
According to NJ Advance Media, African penguins were reclassified as critically endangered in October 2024 due to habitat loss, overfishing, and other environmental pressures. Functional extinction could occur by 2035 without decisive conservation.
The penguins are native to southwestern Africa and can dive deep into the water. Their numbers, however, have plummeted from historic levels due to habitat loss and reduced prey availability.
The recent newborns follow Gabby and Shubert, who were born in December 2024 as part of the same breeding program. Gabby and Shubert celebrated their first birthday on Dec. 1.
“These milestones are incredibly important for the critically endangered African penguin population, and we couldn’t be more proud to play a role in their future,” the aquarium, located outside of Philadelphia, wrote in a social media post.