The first penguins hatched near “Vernadsky”: polar explorers are waiting for a baby boom

The first chicks of this year’s subantarctic penguins appeared near the “Akademik Vernadskyi” station.

Babies in gray fur are funny, clumsy and hide under their parents, but actively squeak from there, the National Antarctic Science Center reports.

According to polar explorers, 8 chicks were born from the first 11 eggs laid in early November.

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There are families in which two penguins have already hatched, and there are those where one cub is still waiting for a brother or sister to appear, scientists say.

All photos: National Antarctic Science Center

“The firstborn were discovered by the biologist of the 28th UAE Serhiy Glotov, joking that “Noosphere” (the icebreaker that arrived at the station on December 11 – UP), like a stork, “brought” replenishment to the polar explorers”– mocked at the station.

A record number of subantarctic penguins – more than 5,300 – made nests near “Vernadsky”, so polar explorers are expecting a baby boom in the near future.

“Biologist of the 28th UAE Vadym Tkachenko counted 4.8 thousand eggs in the nests”– they add in the Antarctic Center.

The firstborn were discovered by the biologist of the 28th scientific expedition Serhiy Glotov

It is expected that if the baby boom falls on the New Year. According to polarists, this can be affected by the level of snow and the activity of predators.

Scientists recalled that penguins incubate eggs and chicks in turn – while one of the partners remains on the nest, the other goes to the ocean to hunt for krill. After a few days, they change.

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“We predict that for the new year there will be a lot of penguins and baby penguins near “Vernadskyi”, – write the Polarians

Under the care of parents babies stay for a month, after which they begin to molt, unite in a nursery and actively study the world around them.

After completing the molting stage, they learn to swim in the ocean and forage for themselves.

We wish the children to grow strong and healthy

Earlier, we reported that the penguins near the “Akademik Vernadskyi” station laid their first eggs.

Read also: An iceberg crashed into an island in Antarctica where penguins live. Spoiler alert: no one was hurt