As Austria experiences heat waves this summer, Schönbrunn Zoo announces that a King Penguin chick was born on July 15th at one of Vienna’s coolest locations—the Polarium. The King Penguin, the second-largest penguin species after the Emperor Penguin, can reach a height of up to 95 centimeters. Unlike other birds, King Penguins do not build nests; instead, they incubate their eggs for about 55 days by keeping them in a brood pouch on their abdomen.

After being born, the chick remains hidden between the parents’ feet for warmth until it develops a layer of insulating down feathers. Now, the chick is visible to zoo visitors. The chick will molt for the first time at around ten months old, developing water-resistant feathers that will enable it to start swimming.

King Penguins naturally breed on subantarctic islands in the Southern Hemisphere. The Polarium at Schönbrunn Zoo is designed to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat. This includes maintaining air and water temperatures at around 10 degrees Celsius, similar to their wild environment. The water is kept clean and reusable through a sand filter system and occasional ozone treatment. The penguins are fed a diet of select marine fish, primarily mackerel and herring, delivered every two months. Additionally, a machine produces fresh ice for the penguins’ enrichment.

The success of the breeding program is attributed to the dedicated team of zookeepers who care for the penguins with expertise and commitment.