Govind Tekale
Tiny penguin chicks at Blackpool Zoo are getting blue nail polish on their toes – but it’s not just for fashion. This creative solution helps zoo staff tell the fluffy siblings apart, ensuring proper care for each baby bird.
Keepers at the zoo have started painting the toenails of one chick blue in each nest box that contains two chicks. This simple “penguin pedicure” serves a vital purpose: it allows staff to accurately track each chick’s health, weight, and development.
“As they grow it’s easy to confuse them, especially with multiple chicks in some nest boxes and markings that are very similar,” explains Jason Keller, Senior Keeper at Blackpool Zoo. “Painting the toe nails of one from each nest box containing two chicks with blue varnish means we can be sure we are recording all their information correctly.”
The blue nail polish is only a temporary identification method. When the chicks reach about 12 weeks old, they’ll receive permanent ID bands after their gender is confirmed through feather sample analysis at a specialist lab. This testing will also allow the zoo to name each penguin properly.
Blackpool Zoo is unique in the UK as the only facility housing Magellanic penguins. These penguins are native to the coastal regions of Argentina and Chile in South America. Currently, Penguin Cove at the zoo is home to 23 adult Magellanic penguins – 10 males and 13 females.
The zoo expanded its Penguin Cove in 2024, adding a new sandy beach area and increasing the number of nest boxes from six to 11. This expansion has directly supported the breeding program, resulting in the current group of chicks.
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Both penguin parents are actively involved in raising their chicks. They take turns feeding the babies regurgitated fish until the young penguins are old enough to feed themselves. In the coming weeks, these fluffy chicks will begin venturing outside their nests, marking an important developmental milestone.
Around the 12-week mark, the chicks will also begin exploring the pool area for the first time. Their parents will teach them how to swim – an essential skill for penguins both in captivity and the wild.
“We’re looking forward to watching the chicks grow over the summer,” says Keller. “It is always wonderful to see them getting braver and exploring more every day.”
The penguin pedicure highlights how zoos use simple methods to monitor and care for young animals. For fluffy chicks still developing, traditional methods like permanent leg bands might be too intrusive or premature. The temporary nail polish offers a visual way to distinguish between siblings in a nest.
This behind-the-scenes glimpse into daily care routines at the zoo also serves an educational purpose, showing visitors the approaches used in animal management. By tracking each chick individually, keepers can ensure every penguin receives proper nutrition and address any health concerns – demonstrating Blackpool Zoo’s commitment to animal welfare.
Visitors to the zoo this summer will likely get to witness these growing chicks as they begin exploring their environment and learning to swim under the watchful eyes of their parents and keepers.
