Listening on Earth: African Penguin Calls and Chicks
Air Date: June 28, 2024
In this short segment we hear why African penguins are sometimes nicknamed “jackass” penguins. Also, four chicks that recently hatched at the New England Aquarium are giving some hope to this threatened species.
Transcript
DOERING: By the way, those African penguins or Jackass penguins as they are sometimes known really do make a racket!
BRAYING SFX
DOERING: Hence the nickname, since they sound almost like a braying donkey or “jackass.”
BRAYING SFX
DOERING: They’re from the coasts of South Africa and Namibia and like many birds are threatened by climate change and overfishing.
PENGUIN CALL
DOERING: So, breeding programs at zoos and aquariums are helping boost their numbers. In fact, four chicks hatched at the New England Aquarium this spring and have been cared for by staff behind the scenes. Two of them, named Bunker and Althea, recently joined the African penguin colony out on display.
BRAYING SFX
DOERING: The other two hatched a little later but should be named and out on exhibit soon. These little fluffs really are adorable and you’ll just have to visit the Living on Earth website at loe.org to see photos.
