Blackpool Zoo's Penguin Pedicures Help Track Rare Chick Development

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Tiny penguin chicks at Blackpool Zoo are getting blue nail polish on their toes—but the reason why might surprise you.

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These penguin pedicures aren't for fashion—they're a clever solution that helps zookeepers tell nearly identical siblings apart.

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"As they grow it's easy to confuse them, especially with multiple chicks in some nest boxes and markings that are very similar," explains Senior Keeper Jason Keller.

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Blackpool is the only facility in the UK housing Magellanic penguins, with their colony recently expanding from 6 to 11 nest boxes.

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The blue nail polish is just temporary—at 12 weeks old, each chick will have feather samples analyzed to determine its gender.

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After gender testing, the penguins will receive permanent ID bands and official names to replace their colorful toe markings.

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Around the same 12-week mark, these fluffy chicks will begin a major milestone—learning to swim with help from their parents.

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Both penguin parents actively raise their young, taking turns feeding them regurgitated fish until they can feed themselves.

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The expanded Penguin Cove at Blackpool Zoo is now home to 23 adult Magellanic penguins—10 males and 13 females.

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The simple penguin pedicure shows how zoos develop practical solutions for tracking each animal's health and development.

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