Study

Breeding Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae in captivity

Summary

Use captive breeding to increase or maintain populations of seabirds

A study in 1966–1969 at Bronx Zoo, New York, USA (Penney 1978) reported that a breeding population of Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae was maintained in captivity. In November 1966, fourteen pairs of penguins were captured in Antarctica and flown to New York. Nine additional birds were added roughly one year later. Over three breeding periods (including one within the first 11 days of captivity), the colony laid 50 eggs and reared 12 chicks to adulthood. In the second breeding period, 12 of 15 eggs pipped or hatched, but all chicks died within 24 hours. The study suggests this was due to nutrient deficiencies. Over three years, only three adult birds died. The colony was housed in a custom-built experimental facility. It was insulated and cooled to around 3°C. There was a 3.7-m-diameter, 1.2-m-deep pool. Lighting matched field conditions. Small rocks were provided for nest construction. Food was dead whole fish. After the second breeding season, vitamin and mineral supplements were added, and some fish were injected with corn oil. Some of the penguins were used for behavioural studies.

Artificially incubate and hand-rear penguins in captivity

A study in the 1969 at Bronx Zoo, New York, USA (Penney 1978) reported on the successful hand-rearing of an Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae chick. The chick was taken from his parents after 12 days. He was kept in a cardboard box lined with nesting stones and a rag-lined pouch. He was hand-fed with the front halves of small smelts Osmerus mordax and Thaleichthys pacificus injected with corn oil, plus one multivitamin tablet weekly. After one month, the chick was released back into the main colony with other chicks and adults. Hand-feeding continued intermittently for another seven months. The study mentions that other chicks were hand-reared, but does not provide any further information on these.

 

Output references
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