There's a new addition to the Bettembourg Zoo.

Parc merveilleux, the zoological park in Bettembourg, has had a joyous week with the birth of another penguin. As Guy Willems, veterinarian and curator of the institution, explained, such births, although not extraordinary, are always a joy. Penguins are loyal partners and lay eggs every year. The breeding season starts at the end of March, after which the parents incubate the clutch for about 45-50 days. Both parents are involved in the care of the chick - they feed and warm the baby until it gets stronger.

This is the fourth newborn penguin this year. However, they have little chance of staying in Bettembourg - the park has reached its maximum population size with 17 adults. For this reason, as soon as the chicks are old enough to live independently, they will be transferred to another zoo, Monde sauvage near Liège in Belgium, which is part of the same professional association as Parc merveilleux.

Such exchanges between zoos are part of an international breeding and conservation programme that helps to maintain genetic diversity and healthy populations. In this way, Bettembourg Zoo is not only delighting visitors with cute chicks, but also contributing to the sustainable management of captive wildlife.