THIRD BABY AFRICAN PENGUIN CHICK BORN AT ADVENTURE AQUARIUM

CAMDEN, N.J. (January 5, 2026) – Following the exciting December announcement of two baby African 
penguin chicks, Oscar and Duffy, Adventure Aquarium is thrilled to share that a third African penguin 
chick has officially joined the Aquarium’s growing colony.

To celebrate the arrival, the Aquarium is inviting the public to help name the male chick through a naming 
contest. Beginning January 5, Aquarium visitors can vote on their favorite name between “Scrappy,” 
“Zero,” “Flounder” and “Toothless,” selected by the Birds & Mammals team. Voting will be exclusively inperson through donation boxes benefitting AZA SAFE African Penguins and The Southern African 
Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). The contest will close January 19, and the 
winner will be announced on January 20, Penguin Awareness Day.

"We are very excited for Mushu and Hubert to raise their second-ever chick,” said Maddie Olszewski-Pohle, Biologist II, African Penguin Primary. “Both parents did an exceptional job feeding and caring for 
this chick, who is the biggest of the season. Our naming contest will benefit AZA SAFE African Penguins 
and SANCCOB, with proceeds supporting vital conservation efforts. As an ambassador for his species, this 
chick is helping raise awareness and funds to protect African penguins in South Africa."

The 53rd chick was hatched on November 21 to parents Mushu (#44) and Hubert (#47), who also parented 
one of the December 2024 chicks, Shubert. The names for the new chick honor his mother in a “dragons 
and sidekicks” theme, as Mushu is named after the beloved Disney dragon sidekick character.

The newly hatched chick marks another critical milestone for the species, which was reclassified 
as critically endangered in October 2024 by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 
due to habitat loss and environmental changes. With experts warning that African penguins could be 
functionally extinct by 2035 without continued conservation action, each successful hatch represents 
meaningful progress for the future of the species. Adventure Aquarium is an accredited member of the 
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participates in the AZA Species Survival Plan®, which helps 
ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations in human care.

Like Oscar and Duffy, the newest arrival will remain behind the scenes until it develops waterproof 
feathers and weather conditions allow. Guests are encouraged to follow Adventure Aquarium on social 
media for ongoing updates, milestones and behind-the-scenes looks as the chicks grow. Follow all of the 
chicks’ progress on Instagram @adventureaquarium.