The birth of “baby Gentoo” is particularly welcome, as it signals the success of the Sustainable Aquarium Administration mission’s “Breed, Rescue, Protect” project.

When it hatched on June 3, the 95-gram baby couldn’t see. It started opening its eye at three days old and has been thriving ever since.

Its parents were born and raised at Legoland, Billund, Denmark and moved to Bangkok in December 2014. The newborn penguin was covered in light grey fur to protect it from the chilly temperatures in the aquarium but still relies on the warmth from its parents, who will continue to take turns brooding their chick every 12 ro 24 hours until it reaches the age of two months.

Fed with regurgitated food six times a day, the chick has put on weight fast and weighed almost half kilogram at 30 days old. The chick has now started walking and will swim at around two months old after moulting.

“More than two years have passed since the 10 Gentoo penguins travelled across the world to their new home in Bangkok, and now we have welcomed our eleventh member. The aquarium-born penguin is considered a success. Our team of experts are taking great and close care of the chick ,” said Wiboon Rakseree, director of Aquatic Animal Care Department, Sea Life Bangkok.

The winner of the contest will take home Bt15,000 cash along with four annual passes, while the first runner-up gets Bt10,000 and four entry passes

The third prize is Bt5,000 cash and four entry passes

Submission details can be found at Facebook: Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World. The deadline is July 31 and winners will be announced on August 1 2017 via Facebook.

In the meantime, visitors can meet “Baby Gentoo” at the Gentoo Penguin Tank. Adults pay Bt990 and hildren between 3-11 years old get in for Bt790.