SEE IT: Penguin chicks take their first ‘swimming lessons’

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

Adorable photographs show two endangered Humboldt penguin chicks taking their first 'swimming lessons' at Chester Zoo.

The pair, named Ryan and Rob, after Wrexham AFC’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were born at the attraction three months ago.

The chicks have naturally shed their fuzzy grey baby feathers and now embarked on a new adventure – swimming with the zoo’s 45 strong adult colony.

There are 18 species of penguin worldwide and Humboldt penguins are among the most threatened.

The vulnerable species - native to the coasts of Chile and Peru in South America -is at risk of extinction from climate change, marine pollution and overfishing.

Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins and parrots at the zoo, said: “After hatching out of their eggs only a few months ago, these two youngsters have been closely cared for by their parents while snuggled up in their nests.

"But now they’ve shed their fluffy grey feathers and developed their multi-layered waterproof feathers.

"Watching as they tentatively make a splash is a real joy and within minutes they did what comes naturally to them, and now they’re zooming through the waters at high speed.

“Each year our team enjoys choosing a different naming theme for the chicks to help garner some much needed attention for the species.

"We’ve previously had brands of crisps, chocolate bars and types of fruit.

"This year, as one of our penguin keepers is huge fan of local football team, Wrexham AFC, we decided to do something a little different and name the two new male arrivals after Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan (Reynolds) and Rob (McElhenney).

"They’re both so full of personality and charisma – so it seemed rather fitting. Their diving skills are already spot on.

“While it’s a lot of fun, there’s also a serious message behind it too.

"We hope we can help spread some much-needed awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and inspire more people to take small, daily steps in playing an active role in protecting the future of species like the Humboldt penguin.

"Some very simple things we can all do are using less single-use plastics, eating sustainably caught fish, and reducing energy use - even if it’s just a little - that contributes to the warming of the seas.”

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Humboldt penguin as "Vulnerable" on its Red List of Threatened Species.

The zoo says contributing factors to their decline include overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution, as well as climate change.

Additionally, human encroachment on their nesting sites disrupts their colonies, putting further pressure on the species.

Chester Zoo has a breeding programs with other major conservation zoos across the globe in a bid to protect the endangered species.