Jurong Bird Park Welcomes First Baby King Penguin in Nearly a Decade

Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park welcomed its first baby king penguin in nearly a decade on December 13.

The fluffy chick, named Maru, was artificially incubated at the zoo’s Breeding and Research Centre and is the first king penguin hatched at Jurong Park since 2008.

According to a report from The Straits Times, Maru’s name means “round” in Japanese, and the bird was born from parents Zoro and Sora in August. Its egg was incubated to maximize survival, and Maru hatched on October 10, weighing in at about 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

These videos show Maru meeting the other penguins at the park, as well as scenes from the chick’s early life. Credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore via Storyful