SF Zoo's male penguin pair returns

Harry and Pepper, the San Francisco Zoo's male penguin pair, are once again at the San Francisco Zoo after a nine-month star turn at the Sacramento Zoo.

The birds were on loan to the Sacramento Zoo since shortly after Valentine's Day last year to help christen a new temporary penguin exhibit at that zoo.

Mating season on SF zoo's penguin island began last month, and the penguins spend a good portion of their day prepping their nests to care for their eggs, which usually are laid around Mother's Day.

The male penguin pair will be given an infertile egg to care for, as has been done in the past, to prevent them from stealing an egg from another couple. With the island at capacity with 53 birds, only two couples will be allowed to care for fertile eggs this year.

Source: Bay Area Reporter