Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium asks for public help to name newborn king penguin

The penguins parents are named Loaf and Solo.
The penguins parents are named Loaf and Solo. Photo credit: Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's

Staff at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's aquarium in Auckland have announced the arrival of a new king penguin chick, and they need the public's help to give it a name.

The baby arrived on Valentine's Day and has recently made its debut in the Antarctic Ice Adventure display.

The new arrival is six weeks old and weighs almost 5kgs, and is being well looked after by devoted parents Loaf and Solo who have barely left the newborn's side since birth.

However, Loaf and Solo are struggling with one aspect of the newborn's arrival: giving them a name.

Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium asks for public help to name newborn king penguin
Photo credit: Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's

"The fluffy little chick spent the first month of its life with its head tucked under dad Loaf's tummy but has recently started venturing out and standing up in front. It is still too early for us to know the gender of the baby but it's safe to say it is doing very well and being cared for wonderfully," Kelly Tarlton's spokeswoman Laura Seaman said.

Seaman says anyone who wants to suggest a name for the penguin can send through their suggestion via the aquarium's website. 

The hatchling is the second baby for dad Loaf and the third for mum Solo. Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's runs New Zealand's only king penguin breeding program, which is one of the most successful programs of its kind in the world and has been running for 24 years.

Have you suggested a name for the penguin? Let us know what name you chose in our Newshub Travel Facebook group. But, remember to send your suggestions to the aquarium itself via their website.