Five new African penguin chicks have hatched at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, adding to two chicks born in May and giving the South Carolina aquarium a record nesting season for its resident colony.
Staff called it a “baby boom” and said the hatchings are a major positive for a species considered Critically-Endangered and at risk of disappearing from the Earth.
“We thought we were lucky with our first two chicks, but welcoming five more has made this an unforgettable year,” Courtnie Barnett, the aquarium’s general manager, said in a news release.
“This incredible milestone would not be possible without our amazing animal care team. Their dedication, expertise, and passion for these animals is truly what makes moments like this possible, and we are so proud to celebrate the Lucky Seven with our guests.”
The five new chicks have not been named. The two that hatched in May are called Chel and Vic.
African penguins are the only penguin species found in the Old World. They live along the coast of South Africa and Namibia.
Their populations have been declining throughout the 21st century, though previous estimates had suggested they would have been extinct by now.
In March 2025, during the interim stages of a lawsuit launched by environmental groups against South African environment and fishing authorities, a settlement was reached to create substantially larger no-fishing zones around six key penguin breeding colonies. The BBC reported it was the first legal action of its kind in the country.
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