Vienna, Austria - June 25, 2025 Schönbrunn Zoo is celebrating the birth of twelve northern rockhopper penguin chicks, hatched in April 2025. The chicks spent their first two weeks under the care of their parents before being tended to by the zoo’s keepers. They were weighed and fed three times daily. Now, the young penguins are housed in a special section of the Polarium, where they are learning to retrieve fish from the water. Visitors can already view them in this area. “These animals face major threats from climate change, overfishing, and ocean pollution,” said Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. He emphasized that zoo populations serve as an essential genetic reserve. The year 2025 also marks a milestone for Schönbrunn Zoo. For ten years, it has coordinated the European Endangered Species Program for both Northern and Southern Rockhopper Penguins. “We have the most successful breeding program in Europe,” said zoological assistant Sabine Frühwirth. Twelve chicks hatched this year alone. Over 100 penguins bred at Schönbrunn Zoo now live in other European zoos. New breeding groups have been established thanks to the team's careful monitoring and dedication.