Zoo parades penguins emerging from eggs

THE first gentoo penguin chicks of the mating season were expected to come out of their shells at Edinburgh Zoo over the weekend.

During the mating season large doughnut-shaped nesting rings and pebbles were placed in the enclosures by keepers.

Within hours, the amusing courtship displays, whereby males presented females with a love token of a pebble, began.

This year, 108 eggs have been laid. Roslin Talbot, head keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: "Edinburgh Zoo is one of the most successful captive breeding sites for gentoo penguins in Europe."

Those tuning into the ever-popular penguin cam at www.edinburghzoo.org.uk may be the first to glimpse this year's emerging chicks.

Once the chicks hatch, they remain in the nest for two months and are fed by both parents. Adults will hold on to partly digested food to feed chicks.