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Two King Penguin chicks have hatched in SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s Penguin Playground as part of the 8th successful King Penguin breeding season.

King penguins are the second largest penguin species. The sub-Antarctic birds have the longest breeding cycle in the penguin family with the ritual of courtship, egg laying and rearing taking up to 16 months.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is temporarily closed to the public during COVID-19, however, the dedicated team of aquarists and keepers are continuing to feed and care for the aquatic animals while taking precautionary social distancing and hygiene measures.

The SEA LIFE Melbourne team has named one of the recently hatched chicks ‘Sparkie’ however they are giving the public the opportunity to name the second chick by watching the live stream on the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s Facebook page.

The birth of Sparkie and the currently unnamed chick brings the total number of King Penguin chicks in 2020 to four, following the arrival of Lorraine and Whopper earlier this year.

The chicks will remain close to their parents until they are around 10 months old before fledging into a waterproof layer of feathers and learning to swim.

To watch the live stream from SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s Penguin Playground at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 8^th April) go to www.facebook.com/melbourneaquarium 

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6th June 2019 - SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium calls for volunteers on World Oceans Day

2nd May 2019 - SEA LIFE Melbourne launches new guest experiences

16th March 2019 - Flatback Sea Turtles at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium help raise awareness of endangered marine life

10th August 2017 - Infant Sea Turtles settle in at SEA LIFE Melbourne

8th June 2017 - SEA LIFE Melbourne celebrates World Oceans Day to spread important message

11th January 2017 - SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium helps make the beach accessible to all

14th July 2016 - SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium celebrates Shark Awareness Day

24th April 2016 - SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium celebrates World Penguin Day

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