More Antarctic chicks hatched in tropical Hengqin

Two more emperor penguins were hatched in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom this month, adding to two births last year south of the Tropic of Cancer -- the lowest latitude in Asia so far for such events.

The baby emperor penguins, named Liuliu (66) and Enen made their debuts to the public in Zhuhai's Hengqin New Area on June 26.

Liu (6) means six in Chinese because it was hatched in the sixth month of this year after 66 days of incubation, taking 66 hours to break out of the egg. Enen was born on June 17, a day before Father's Day and so was bestowed with En, a name which implies being grateful. 

Emperor penguins at home in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom created a simulated living environment in which conditions such as temperature, humidity, photoperiod, and the ratio between areas of land and pool resemble those of Antarctica.

The park houses the largest population of exhibited penguins in the world. Emperor penguins are the tallest and heaviest among them.

According to a staff member at Chimelong, 23 eggs were laid by mother emperor penguins this year, almost tripling the number recorded last year. And there are still 16 eggs under incubation, suggesting the record is to be broken again.

Visitors with the right timing might be lucky enough to witness the actual birth of emperor penguins, claimed the staffer.