March Of The Penguins: Chicks Waddle To Penguin Island

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco Zoo's Six Magellanic penguin chicks took part in a beloved annual rite of passage Saturday, the March of the Penguins , after graduating from "fish school."

All six hatched in May and were initially reared by their parents or foster parents before being sent to fish school where they were taught how to swim, eat whole fish and socialize with their caretakers.

During March of the Penguins, the chicks were guided by animal care staff to ensure their journey was a smooth one.

The March of the Penguins is one of the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens' most popular events. However, due to the pandemic, a scaled-down version was held as a fundraiser, with a limited number of invited guests lined up to watch the march in socially distant circles.

During the past two weeks, a naming contest open to Zoo members and the general public also helped raise additional funds. At Saturday's event, winning names for two male chicks were randomly drawn: "Talented Mr. Slippery" and "Rookie."

The six new additions bring the total number of Magellanic penguins at the zoo to 56 individuals.

After ceremoniously entering Penguin Island's 200-foot-long pool, the chicks were seen swimming and exploring their new habitat, although some may have needed encouragement to jump into the deep end.

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story