(MY) penguins at UWL

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Wednesday August 24, 2005 - The Star

 

 

Penguins have started mating

By SIRA HABIBU

 

Love is in the air for Rockhopper penguins at the Underwater World

Langkawi(UWL)in Langkawi.

 

At least five pairs of the 19 crested penguins have started mating and

even trying to build nesting sites for eventual breeding.

 

And if things work out, there is a good chance for the first penguin chick

to be hatched in captivity in Malaysia by the end of the year, according to

UWL veterinary doctor Dr Yusmalia Mohamad Yusof.

 

She said the breeding cycle of the Rockhopper penguins would begin in early

October.

 

 

Rockhopper penguins in a lovey-dovey mood.

Some of the penguins have started pairing up. It is only a matter of time

before they start mating, she said.

 

She said the penguins usually started mating around the age of five.

 

Some of the penguins at the centre have almost reached the breeding age.

 

We are excited as some of the penguins have started making nesting sites

for breeding.

 

They pick up small rocks with their beaks and place them in a circular

patch, just like how they would do in the wild, she said.

 

If they start mating in a couple of months, the females may lay eggs some

time in November.

 

Incubation period for the eggs is about 33 days. Hopefully during the long

school holidays, we will be able to present the first baby penguin to be

hatched in captivity in Malaysia, said Dr Yusmalia.

 

Underwater World Langkawi Sdn Bhd general manager Tanzil Md Noor hoped the

breeding programme would be a success.

 

The penguin is our centre's flag bearer. We are obsessed with penguins. Our

mascot is the penguin and we have penguin prints on our goody bags,he

said.

 

He added several programmes had been lined up in conjunction with National

Day celebrations on Aug 31.

 

We are organising a treasure hunt for secondary school students and a

colouring contest for pre-school and primary school children.

 

We will also give birthday cakes to the first 10 visitors born on Aug 31,

he said.