LOCAL

Louisville Zoo's baby little penguins aren't as cute as you think. They're cuter

Nikki Boliaux
Louisville Courier Journal
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, left, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin, and Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male, hang out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, left, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin, and Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male, hang out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, peeps over the edge of a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, peeps over the edge of a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, left, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin, and Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male, hang out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, left, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin, and Pearl, right, a 73 day-old male, hang out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, holds Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that Michael and the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Pearl, a 73 day-old male little/blue penguin that is being hand-reared by the Bird Department staff, hangs out in a baby pool in a conference room in the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Michael removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux
A member of the media photographs Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing at the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
A member of the media photographs Squirt, a 68 day-old female little/blue penguin that the Bird Department staff have been hand-rearing at the Louisville Zoo in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Little/blue penguins, native to the southern coast of Australia and the coastline of New Zealand, rarely raise more than one offspring. Because four eggs were laid at the zoo, Gary Michael, Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo, removed the two eggs that were ignored by the parents and worked to ensure the abandoned pre-hatch chicks could survive.
Nikki Boliaux