The Chicks

The Zoo needs your help to name some very special new members of our animal family.

Two penguin chicks, both female, hatched in early October — the first to be hatched at the Zoo’s new Penguin Coast exhibit!. They are not siblings, but were raised by the same set of parents. Just like Winnie, Tails, and Lilly, these chicks will join the Animal ambassadors program. That means they will be traveling far and wide in the Zoomobile on education outreach programs!


The Names

The names, selected by a variety of Zoo staff, represent a few different themes:

  • Shelly and Sandy – for the variety of beaches where they live in South Africa
  • Nellie and Mandie – for Nelson Mandela
  • Dawn and Hope – Dawn for the dishwashing detergent that is used to clean wild penguins caught in oil spills and Hope for the Cape of Good Hope, home to the Boulders Penguin Colony.
  • Daisy and Rose – flower names to compliment current penguin Lilly
AND THE WINNING NAMES YOU CHOSE ARE…

Dawn & Hope!

With nearly 40% of votes from more than 2,400 total votes cast, Dawn and Hope were chosen as your favorites! Learn more and see new pics of the chicks.


Get to know our precious pair of penguins in this video!

Love Penguins? Adopt one for yourself or give the gift of a penguin adoption!

Learn About Penguin Adoptions