A baby bird in California has made history after becoming the world’s first penguin to be conceived using artificial insemination.
The unnamed female Magellanic penguin was hatched in May at SeaWorld California after sperm was frozen and then thawed.
The 12-week-old penguin was hand-reared at the attraction’s Penguin Encounter nursery, but is now feeding on fish.
Although she doesn't have an official name, she is referred to as 184. She has now joined other Magellanic penguin chicks that were conceived naturally at the attraction.
Researchers are hoping to use these artificial insemination techniques to increase the genetic diversity of penguin species, and learn more about their biology.
This research could then be used to sustain, or improve, penguin populations around the world.
After the bird hatched, she was fed a special formula of ground herring fillets, krill, minerals, vitamins and water five times a day during the first four weeks.
The scientific first is the result of a decade of research by Dr. Todd Robeck, SeaWorld’s vice President of Theriogenology, and Dr. Justine O’Brien, the reproductive centre’s Scientific Director.
Dr. Justine O’Brien said: ‘The goal of our research centre is to study a species’ reproductive biology, to learn as much as we can about that, and use this to not only monitor the health of not only our zoological populations but wild populations as well.
‘We have also use this information to develop system reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and semen preservation.
‘These technologies are important conservation tools as they allow us to maximise the genetic diversity of these populations and ensure there’s sustainability into the long term.’
For more than 30 years, SeaWorld San Diego has run a successful penguin breeding program.
Since 1980, more than 600 penguin chicks have been hatched and raised at the marine park, including the first-ever chinstrap and emperor penguins.
【新闻快讯】
世界上首只“试管企鹅”在美国加利福尼亚诞生。
这只刚出生的母麦哲伦企鹅宝宝是由冷冻精子受孕而生，她暂时还没有名字，研究人员称她为“184”。
研究人员希望通过人工授精的方式来增加企鹅的物种多样性。
麦哲伦企鹅多分布于南美洲，是著名航海家麦哲伦于1519年最早发现的，后世科学界遂以他的名字命名该物种。
