Safari park welcomes two new penguin chicks

West Midlands Safari Park has welcomed two new penguin chicks, both named after musical legends.

The Humboldt penguin chicks, Oasis and Ozzy, both have names beginning with 'O' as all animals born at the park in 2026 have names starting with this letter.

Oasis, the eldest chick, was born on 1 April to four-year-old Kris and her partner, 11-year-old Dumbledore, while Ozzy hatched on 9 April to parents four-year-old Kendall and 15-year-old Elder.

Megan Brindley, who cares for the penguins, said: "We are extremely excited to announce that Penguin Cove has welcomed the arrival of not one but two penguin chicks."

She added: "Humbolt Penguins are classed as vulnerable with only approximately 20,000 left in the wild, so we are pleased that we have successfully been able to add to the numbers, through the conservation breeding programme.

"Oasis is shy and doesn't stray far from mum and dad, but happily demands food and attention, whereas Ozzy is like their name's sake and has a great set of lungs and loves to loudly chirp in the nest box.

"At the moment, both chicks are adorable bundles of grey fluff and are getting bigger every day. As a penguin keeper, having chicks hatch is really the best part of the job."

The births are an important contribution to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria's Ex situ Programme (EEP), which helps to safeguard the future of the species.

To celebrate the birth of the chicks, the park has offered free Little Penguin Wristbands throughout May, for children measuring above 0.8m and under 1m in height, to enjoy the smaller rides within the Adventure Theme Park.

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