December 6, 2023
After overwhelming public participation, the emperor penguin chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego at this time and was formally named Pearl. Photograph courtesy SeaWorld

After overwhelming public participation, the emperor penguin chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego Thursday and was formally named Pearl.

Greater than 29,000 individuals voted, with Pearl receiving greater than half the votes, in line with PRNewswire. Pearl hatched on Sept. 12, the primary chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego since 2010.

SeaWorld San Diego is the one zoo within the Western Hemisphere the place emperor penguins will be seen. Pearl was anticipated to be prepared to affix the park’s penguin colony in early 2024, at which level she can be seen to most people.  

Till then, in response to the general public curiosity in her arrival, SeaWorld San Diego has created two new particular tickets to allow a restricted variety of friends to see her now behind the scenes, with 10% of the proceeds going to assist penguin conservation world wide.

— Final Penguin On-Ice Expertise and Viewing of Pearl: For the primary time, friends can be invited to step onto the snow amongst six totally different penguin species, together with the emperor penguins, at Penguin Encounter. They may find out about penguins from an aviculturist, who will share what it takes to
look after these extremely specialised animals. Company will obtain a uncommon viewing of Pearl.  Tickets begin at $199.
   — Penguin Up Shut Tour and Viewing of Pearl: Company will go behind the scenes at Penguin Encounter for an up-close interplay with one of many penguins from Penguin Encounter. They may meet an aviculturist and study what it takes to look after the animals. Company will obtain a uncommon viewing of Pearl.

Tickets begin at $94. Tickets will be bought at Penguin Encounter.
 
“Now we have been amazed by the outpouring of pleasure round Pearl’s hatching and can’t look forward to friends to have the ability to see her and observe her journey as she matures,” mentioned Eric Otjen, Head of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Diego. “This can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative for many
individuals given the rarity of the species, so these new limited-time viewings are one thing extraordinarily particular.”

Penguin Encounter is dwelling to a colony of 17 emperor penguins, in addition to 300 different penguins together with king, gentoo, macaroni, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins. The exhibit is a 25-degree, snow-filled habitat the place the resident penguins can swim and work together throughout the colony. A colony of warm-weather Magellanic penguins, native to South America, reside in a habitat exterior the Penguin Encounter, which can also be dwelling to just about 60 puffins and murres.

Emperor penguins are listed as a threatened species below the Endangered Species Act as a result of lack of Antarctic sea ice and rising sea ranges brought on by local weather change.

–Metropolis Information Service