Sea World San Diego hatched 30 penguin chicks in 2008 adding to the over 500 hatched at the Penguin Encounter over the last two decades. Here is their most recent arrival, a baby Gentoo penguin which emerged from its shell on Dec. 1st.

Additional background info on the Penguin Encounter:  The SeaWorld San Diego Penguin Encounter celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. More than 500 chicks have been hatched and raised at the Penguin Encounter in the last two decades.

There are approximately 300 penguins in the exhibit representing five species, including the Emperor penguin, the largest of the penguin species. SeaWorld is the only location in North America to house and successfully breed Emperorpenguins. The other penguins on exhibit are Adélie, macaroni, gentoo and King.

The temperature in the exhibit is kept between 25 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit and each day aviculturists blow more than 4,000 pounds of fresh snow into the exhibit to represent the Antarctic environment. The exhibit's lighting is also adjusted to approximate the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere.  The Penguin Encounter is one of the most popular exhibits at SeaWorld San Diego and visitors also have the opportunity to take a 1-hour Penguin Experience behind-the-scene tour to learn about and interact with a penguin.