Mumbai, August 16: Mumbai's Jijamata Udyan in Byculla has welcomed the first penguin birth on Indian soil. The Humboldt penguin couple Flipper and Molt have become proud parents to their baby who hatched on the occasion of Independence day as predicted. The baby penguin was born at 8.02 pm on August 15, as informed by Dr Sanjay Tripathi, Director of the zoo. The mother Flipper was seen actively taking care of her newborn, trying to feed it. This is the first time a penguin has been born in captivity in the country.

The zoo authorities were preparing for the arrival of the newborn, making arrangements of special space and also learning how to take care. Penguin eggs usually hatch after 40-45 days after laying. The egg was laid on July 5, 2018, and completed 40 days on August 15. The veteran expert had said it could take more 2 days more, but on the evening of Independence Day, the egg hatched, a double delight to everyone.

Watch The First Picture of the Baby Penguin Born in Byculla zoo:

First picture of Baby penguin (Photo credits: File photo)

Take a look at the first video of the newborn baby penguin in Byculla zoo:

Yuva Shiv Sena Cheif Aditya Thackeray, who played a major role in getting the Arctic birds in the country, confirmed the good news on his Twitter account.

Take a look at Aditya Thackeray's tweet:

The zoo officials are well prepared and plan to observe the baby with precision. The baby will be observed growing until it learns to take good care of itself. The newborn will be exhibited for the people only 3-4 months down the line.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 10:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).