Chicago families have a brand-new reason to visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Robin, a young Humboldt penguin who hatched at the zoo on July 7, has made her public debut. The cheerful newcomer now swims and waddles with the colony in the Rocky Shores habitat of The Living Coast, where guests can watch her explore, dive and learn the routines of penguin life alongside the adult birds.
Robin carries a special name. She was named in honor of Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Society, celebrating a shared commitment to animal welfare and conservation. Keep an eye out for her signature look: she is easy to spot thanks to the black and hot pink identification band on her left wing, a helpful detail for younger visitors playing “find Robin” from the viewing areas.
Humboldt penguins are native to the rocky coasts of Chile and Peru, and Brookfield Zoo Chicago works to protect their wild counterparts, including conservation efforts in Punta San Juan, Peru. A visit to see Robin is therefore more than a cute photo opportunity: animal care specialists share how the colony is fed, how each bird is monitored, and why protecting ocean habitat matters for penguins in the wild.
Plan a family trip soon, arrive at The Living Coast, and give Chicago’s newest penguin a warm welcome.
Photo: Ronincmc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
