Curraghs Wildlife Park has announced the birth of four rare penguin chicks, with maybe more on the way.

The baby penguins are living in special nesting boxes and being looked after by their parents before they are big enough to enter the main penguin exhibit.

Humboldt penguins originated from South America but as a result of over-fishing, climate change, habitat destruction and ocean acidification, they are now classed as ’vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature with their current population estimated at only 32,000 mature individuals.

Their keeper Bernie Cannan said: ’We have four chicks and another two pairs are currently nesting which we hope will be successful. It’s the best year ever that the park has experienced.’

The four chicks range from two to six weeks and will be watched over by their parents for around three months.

The park’s general manager, Kathleen Graham, added: ’It’s great news for the Park and for the EAZA breeding program. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria breeding programme sees co-operation and expertise shared between the best zoos in Europe and beyond.

’It is really important as Humboldt penguins are not only threatened with global warming and conflict with man but are particularly susceptible to catastrophic events like oil spills.’