The Chimelong International Ocean Resort in Hengqin bred 17 emperor penguins last year, setting a new world record for the breeding of the species in captivity. That’s according to Chimelong conversation specialist, Zhang Xueping, who spoke to Chinese-language media outlets yesterday on the sidelines of an event to officially showcase the 1-month-old emperor penguin chicks, Pipi and Jiujiu.
Zhang noted that Chimelong was witnessing its best results in terms of the number of eggs, the density of breeding and the frequency of successful reproductions this year.
To top it all off, Chimelong welcomed its second generation of emperor penguins to be bred in captivity this year, suggesting that the penguin species at the resort have reached a sustainable and stable pattern of reproduction.
According to Zhang, the resort managed to break the record for the hatching of a baby emperor penguin at the lowest latitude in Asia in 2016. Since then, Chimelong’s conservation breeding programme has gone from strength to strength, with the first generation of penguins bred in a controlled environment now involved in reproduction.
Meanwhile, the resort has facilitated the births of more than 400 penguins, making it the single largest penguin conservation base in the world.
Zhang also revealed that his team used innovative techniques, adopting a model of weight management for the penguins in the early stages and assisted care for the penguin chicks in the later phases.
[See more: Hengqin’s Chimelong resort launches a direct ferry transfer from Hong Kong airport]
Since its establishment in 2014, Chimelong has dedicated a significant amount of effort to wildlife conservation, with the resort currently housing the world’s largest display of emperor penguins, gentoo penguins and Adélie penguins.
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species in the world, growing around 120 centimetres tall and weighing roughly 40 kilograms. The species, whose wild population can only be found in Antarctica, is easily identifiable by its distinctive yellow streak around the side of its neck.
Data from Penguins International indicate the animals are currently “near threatened,” with around 120,000 breeding pairs. Climate change has threatened their habitats, with one recent study forecasting a speedy drop in their numbers this century.
Aside from penguins, Chimelong has also sought to breed other endangered species, including the African manatee. In March, the theme park publicly showcased for the first time Liya, a 6-week old female manatee cub that was born in captivity.
Overall, the Chimelong group, which operates three resorts in Hengqin, Guangzhou and Qingyuan, has helped to breed 406 species and more than 30,000 types of rare animals such as proboscis monkeys, hippopotamus and great pied hornbill.
