Penguin chicks take to water for first swim lesson at London Zoo

Eleven young Humboldt penguin chicks took a dip in the water at London Zoo this week for their first swimming lesson since they hatched in April.
McVitie, Swiftie, Gonzo, Pepe, Beaker, Coco, Bob, Thérèse, Randall, Hanbury and Medici, went into the zoo's shallow training pool after shedding their first soft feathers and growing waterproof and stiff black white ones in their place, the zoo said. This usually happens when chicks are six to 12 weeks old, allowing them to swim.
“The penguins all started by tentatively inspecting our small nursery pool: looking at the water, walking towards the edge, walking away, coming back," zookeeper Jessica Ray said in a statement.
"The water’s brand new to them, so we were expecting the chicks to be apprehensive. They seem to have gotten past that initial apprehension quickly and we’ve already got some very proficient swimmers in the group!"
Native to coastal Peru and Chile, Humboldt penguins, classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, can swim at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, the zoo said.
Eventually the 11 chicks will move into the zoo's main penguin pool. - Report from Reuters
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