It is time for our gentoo penguins to begin molting! Molting is the process penguins go through to shed their old feathers to make room for new ones. This happens at the same time every year following the breeding season. The gentoo penguins at the Aquarium usually begin to molt around mid to late August. This is sometimes called a catastrophic molt because, unlike other birds who gradually lose their feathers, penguins lose them all at once.
A penguin’s feathers are essential for keeping them warm and dry in the frigid ocean waters. But over time those feathers can get worn down or damaged. This is why the molting process is important because it allows them to regrow stronger and healthier.
This process takes about 2-3 weeks, and usually comes in stages. In the beginning they gorge on food to gain weight and store body fat to prepare for stage two. This is when the penguins begin to lose all their old feathers and can no longer swim to catch their food. So, all their stored body fat comes in handy while they spend the next 1-2 weeks without eating. Once their new feathers are all grown in and they are done molting, they return to the water to replenish the body fat they lost.
If you want to see videos depicting the changes our penguins go through during this time, visit our social media pages.