FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth Zoo is continuing its streak of new arrivals with the hatching of a rockhopper penguin chick. 

What You Need To Know

  • This is the first rockhopper chick to hatch in the zoo’s history, and zoo staff have named the female chick Darcy 

  • Darcy was born at the end of last year on Dec. 21, and by 3 months old, she will be fully grown

  • But, good news! You can see Darcy out in the Penguins habitat at the zoo now, before she grows up

This is the first rockhopper chick to hatch in the zoo’s history, and zoo staff have named the female chick Darcy. 

“Because of their vulnerable status in the wild with populations declining, the Zoo is celebrating this major conservation success,” Fort Worth Zoo officials said in a news release. “There have only been 36 rockhopper penguin chicks hatched in the last three years across all accredited zoos and aquariums.”

Darcy was born at the end of last year on Dec. 21, and by 3 months old, she will be fully grown. But, good news! You can see Darcy out in the Penguins habitat at the zoo now, before she grows up. 

When zoo staff first examined her, she fit in the palms of the keepers’ hands, weighing 2.65 pounds. 

“She left the nest for the first time on Jan. 15, using this opportunity to stretch her legs and explore her habitat,” the release said. “She is still covered in baby fuzz, but as she grows her waterproof feathers, she is expected to start swimming with the other rockhoppers in the next few months.”

Both of Darcy’s parents, Fredrick and Dot, have been caring for the hatchling, and the rest of the colony has been keeping an eye on her as well. 

“The group was interested in the egg, and as Darcy hatched, other rockhoppers would come close to catch a glimpse of her,” the release said. “Now, the colony has even started to guard the chick and help preen her feathers.”

I guess it takes a village to raise a rockhopper penguin chick.