A tiny Humboldt penguin chick has made its debut at the Oregon Zoo, hatching to the delight of zoo staff and visitors.

The chick, which started 'pipping' on March 2 and fully emerged on March 4, is being well cared for by its parents in their nest according to Marcus Jason, the zoo's penguin habitat overseer. This adorable new arrival is the 194th Humboldt chick to hatch at the zoo since the breeding program began in the 1980s.

Despite its small size, the chick will grow rapidly and be nearly as tall as its parents by the summer. However, it will take a couple of years for its distinctive black-and-white markings to fully develop.

Currently snug in its nest box and nourished by regurgitated 'fish smoothie' from its parents, the chick will soon begin to explore the Penguinarium at the zoo, which mimics the rocky coastal habitats of Chile and Peru where Humboldt penguins are found.

Humboldt penguins are classified as 'vulnerable' by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature, with only an estimated 12,000 breeding pairs left in the wild.

Threatened by overfishing, habitat destruction, and breeding disruption, efforts to protect these beloved birds are crucial for their survival.