Critically endangered African penguins hatch at South Carolina Aquarium

Five baby penguins from a critically endangered species have hatched at an aquarium in South Carolina, marking a record nesting season.

The five chicks, hatched at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, join two that hatched in May — named Chel and Vic — in what staff are calling a “baby boom” and a major win for conservation. Together they make up the “Lucky Seven.”

“We thought we were lucky with our first two chicks, but welcoming five more has made this an unforgettable year,” Courtnie Barnett, the aquarium’s general manager, said in a news release.”This incredible milestone would not be possible without our amazing animal care team. Their dedication, expertise, and passion for these animals is truly what makes moments like this possible, and we are so proud to celebrate the Lucky Seven with our guests.”The five new chicks have not yet been named.

African penguins are the only penguin species found in the Old World, living along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. Listed as Critically Endangered, populations have declined sharply throughout the 21st century due to overfishing, habitat loss and climate change, with some earlier estimates warning they could be extinct in the wild by now.

The hatchings come months after a landmark conservation win in South Africa. In March 2025, environmental groups reached a settlement with fishing and environment authorities to establish substantially increased no-fishing zones around six key penguin breeding colonies — the first legal action of its kind in the country — after filing suit over food supply shortages driving the species toward extinction.