Penguin pair lays first two eggs in newly opened enclosure at Eindhoven Zoo

The first two penguin eggs in Eindhoven Zoo are a fact. A pair is currently taking turns incubating their two eggs. It is the first nest at the zoo in Mierlo, which opened its penguin enclosure in February.

Eindhoven Zoo welcomed more than 20 Humboldt penguins from two different European zoos in February. The fact that the animals are already comfortable enough to breed so quickly is cause for a lap dance for the zookeepers, says zookeeper Stephan Rijnen.

"Of course we already thought we had realized a good home for the penguins here, but it is always a matter of waiting to see how the animals like it themselves. And then a first egg like this, after a relatively short time, is a very nice confirmation."

Animal keepers spotted the egg on one of the pairs last week. It takes about forty days for an egg to hatch. This means that if all continues to go well, the park on the border of Mierlo and Nuenen may welcome the first young in about four weeks.

The Humboldt penguin is native to the coastal regions of Peru and Chile. They are medium-sized penguins with a relatively large head, black back and tail. Characteristic is the pink spot around their bill. Swimming, they can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour.