Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
For the first time since its opening, the Antarctica habitat at SeaWorld Yas Island in Abu Dhabi has welcomed a new generation of penguins, with 20 chicks hatching this season.
This signals a major milestone for the marine park in its ongoing efforts to support wildlife conservation.
In an exclusive interview with Aletihad, Robert Yordi, General Curator at SeaWorld Yas Island, explained how his team cares for penguins throughout their life cycle, ensuring optimal conditions to support their growth, breeding and overall well-being.
"It's chick season here at Antarctica, and we've been eagerly watching as our penguins go through their nesting and breeding cycles," he said. "We saw our first chicks hatch in early December, and they are now strong enough to begin exploring the habitat alongside the adult penguins."
In September, the park's team began preparing the rookery area for the penguins to start their breeding and nesting rituals.
By mid-October, eggs were laid, and after a 30 to 33-day incubation period, the first chicks began to hatch in late November and December.
Yordi noted that this successful breeding season saw the first hatching ever in the MENA region for some penguin species, including chinstraps, Adelies, and rockhoppers.
"These are some of the birds that our guests see as adults, but this will be the first time they get to see them as chicks," he said.
"We've been preparing for this for years. To see such success after all our efforts, it's incredibly rewarding."
The Antarctica Habitat
Yordi noted that the park's lighting system, which mimics the penguins' natural environment, plays a crucial role in regulating their breeding cycle.
"In the wild, penguins go through long summer days and short nights. Our lighting system replicates these conditions, encouraging the penguins to molt, court, and breed at the appropriate times."
The design of the Antarctica habitat as a whole was built with the penguins' behaviour in mind, Yordi said.
For example, smaller species like rockhoppers and chinstraps prefer higher ledges, while larger species, like king penguins, prefer flatter areas, he explained.
"We brought in tons of rocks for the penguins to choose from for their nests, allowing them to create their ideal environment," Yordi added.
Chick Care and Development
The care provided to the penguin chicks is another key aspect of their development.
In the brooder room, each chick receives personalised care as the team simulates the temperature changes they would experience in the wild, where their parents' brood patches would provide warmth.
As the chicks grow, they are gradually acclimated to the cooler temperatures of the Antarctica habitat.
"Our team monitors each chick's growth closely," Yordi added. "They are weighed multiple times a day, and we keep a close eye on their physical health. The chicks are cared for in every stage, from incubation to their first swim."
Some of the hatched chicks are now old enough to join the other penguins in the Antarctica habitat. After shedding their down feathers to make way for sleek, waterproof, adult feathers, they'll soon be ready for their first swim in the park's chilled waters.
