Public can name new penguin chick at Sewerby Hall and Garden’s Zoo
The team at Sewerby Hall and Gardens Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a healthy female Humboldt penguin chick
The team at Sewerby Hall and Gardens Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a healthy female Humboldt penguin chick, born to long-time resident penguins Sigsbee and Twinnie.
The chick, who hatched on Tuesday, April 15, has already delighted staff and visitors alike by leaving the nest on June 21 to explore her enclosure and take her first swim. The zoo team is now inviting the public to help choose a name for their newest arrival.
The name options, chosen by the keepers, are:
Winnie – in tribute to her remarkable mother Twinnie, who has raised several chicks and continues to amaze the team at the age of 23.
Pebble – inspired by the chick’s tiny, grey appearance and in keeping with sibling names like Pickle, Crackle, and Bumble.
Visitors can cast their vote by commenting on the zoo’s social media post. The winning name will be revealed at a later date.
There was initial uncertainty about whether Twinnie would lay another egg this year due to her age. But on March 4, she did just that. Both she and Sigsbee took turns incubating the egg until it hatched six weeks later.
Head Zookeeper John Pickering shared his excitement: “We are pleased to say that the chick is doing great and loves swimming with her siblings Pickle, Crackle and Bumble.
"Our penguins are extremely popular with visitors and we are certain that our new penguin will add even more personality to our ever-growing penguin family here at the zoo.”
Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction, making this birth not only a cause for celebration but also a small victory for conservation.
The last chick to hatch at the zoo was Bumble, born in the spring of 2024. Like his siblings, he continues to thrive under the care of the zoo team.