Zoo’s first penguin chicks of year born and weighed

By Elizabeth Hunter

The first rockhopper penguin chicks of the year have been born at Edinburgh Zoo - and have been pictured being weighed.

The number of chicks has not yet been announced by the zoo - but staff are keeping a close eye on the hatchlings, weighing them and carrying out general health checks every day.

In an adorable video captured by zoo staff, the chicks can be seen nestling under their parent, before staff quickly weigh the penguin baby in a basket on specially designed scales.

Before hatching, both penguin parents took shifts to incubate their eggs - while one guarded the egg, the other would swim and gather food.

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Now that the chicks have hatched, one parent will brood the chick - keeping them warm under their feathers - while the other brings back regurgitated food.

The brooding process lasts around three weeks, after which the chicks will begin to group together for safety - but both parents will continue to feed the chick until they begin to fledge, or replace their feathers, at around 70 days old.

Rockhopper penguins are an endangered species, with climate change, overfishing and pollution threatening their habitats in the wild.

Recognisable by their distinctive red eyes, prominent crests, and a unique hop-like walk, they are typically found in the Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island group in the South Atlantic Ocean.