One of two Humboldt penguin chicks recently hatched at the Woodland Park Zoo might never have see the light day had it not been for a youngster zoo officials are now trying to find and thank.
The boy was watching the penguin exhibit a short time ago when he saw an egg on a ledge in the exhibit. He brought it to the attention of a zoo keeper who fetched it and put it in the care of a pair of foster parents who tended to it until it hatched, according to a zoo news release. It hatched on April 5.
Birds sometimes reject eggs. Had this one not been spotted by the boy… well.
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When zoo keeper Celine Pardo went to thank the boy for his eagle eyes, he had disappeared.
Here’s what the zoo has to say:
The boy is described as 7 or 8 years old with blonde, curly hair; he was wearing a white t-shirt and was extremely polite. “We are so grateful to this little boy for helping us save this precious bird. If a crow or seagull had scooped up the egg, it would have been a goner,” said Pardo.
Zoo officials would like to invite the youngster for a look behind the scenes to meet the chick he saved and help give it a name.
The zoo asks if anyone knows the identity of the mystery boy, please contact the zoo by emailing: woodlandparkzoopr@zoo.org.
Humboldt penguins are endangered.
Check out our photo gallery of the the zoo’s baby penguins.