First chicks of sub-Antarctic penguins hatched near Antarctic station

The first chicks of sub-Antarctic penguins appeared this year near the Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky station. This was reported by the National Antarctic Science Center, UNN reports.

So far, out of the first 11 eggs laid in early November 8 cubs were born. 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

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It is noted that in the next few months on the island a real baby boom is expected, because now a record number of of sub-Antarctic penguins - more than 5.3 thousand. Biologist of the 28th UAE Vadym Tkachenko counted 4.8 thousand eggs in their nests.

The National Academy of Sciences reminded that these birds hatch eggs and chicks in turn. in turn. While one of the partners stays on the nest, the other goes to the ocean to hunt for krill, and after a few days they change.

Babies stay under the full care of their parents for about a month. Then they begin to molt, unite in a nursery and actively explore the world around them. the world around them. After molting, they learn to swim in the ocean and to find their own food. to get their own food. Before that, they are fed by their parents with krill caught.