Rudi and Blümchen: The cheeky penguin chicks conquer the Oceaneum!

Rudi and Blümchen: The cheeky penguin chicks conquer the Oceaneum!

There are exciting young talents at the Oceaneum in Stralsund! Visitors have recently been able to admire the first two young animals of the year, which are now conquering the roof terrace. The two new members of the Humboldt penguin family, nicknamed Rudi and Blümchen, were born in April and are bringing a breath of fresh air to the penguin community. Animal keeper Anne May describes the two as bright and playful. While Rudi, the male chick, is particularly cheeky, Blümchen, the female creature, is a little more reserved. Unfortunately, another young animal, which also hatched in April, did not make it through and the cause of death is currently being investigated.

A total of 13 Humboldt penguins now live in the Meereseum. These animal stars come from South America, where their habitat is severely threatened. The Oceaneum is actively committed to drawing attention to this threat and informs guests about the critical situation of penguins in their natural environment. Rudi and Blümchen come from different parents, which ensures a little genetic diversity in the small colony.

Quadruple offspring this year

The two cubs are not the only newcomers this year. According to the German Oceanographic Museum, there were a total of four chicks this spring. While Rudi and Blümchen are already busy exploring their outdoor area, the other two have to stay behind the scenes for a while in order to gain size and weight. During this time, the parents look after their little darlings intensively and provide them with food and warmth in the protected nest.

The Humboldt penguins' fruiting period is about 40 days, which allows them a special period of care. All four young animals that hatched this year are male. Future generations may even bring a breath of fresh air to penguin populations in zoos, as the males will later go on a “bride show” with genetically suitable females.

Humboldt penguins in focus

The fact that Humboldt penguins have a special relationship with their observers is also reflected in their habitat. This species was named after the famous naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who discovered the animals during his travels in South America. What's exciting is that Humboldt penguins are not adapted to cold temperatures - only two of 17 penguin species, namely the king penguin and the emperor penguin, live in colder regions. The surroundings of Stralsund are perfect for these small birds.

Visitors are invited to watch Rudi and Blümchen on their adventures and find out about the necessary protective measures for their threatened habitat. It is clear that both the Meereseum and the visitors show a good hand for the preservation of this remarkable species.