Humboldt penguins steal the show again at Brookfield Zoo Chicago as Robin makes public debut

A new Humboldt penguin has joined the colony at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Robin, who hatched on Tuesday, July 7, at the zoo, is now on public view in the Living Coast’s Rocky Shores habitat. According to the Brookfield Zoo Chicago press release, visitors can identify Robin by the black and hot pink band on her left wing.

The young penguin’s debut puts Humboldt penguins back in the spotlight at Brookfield Zoo Chicago after the announcement of the zoo’s new holiday movie “Christmas at the Zoo,” which premieres on Tuesday, Nov. 10 on Tubi. The penguin habitat is heavily filmed throughout the movie as the plot revolves around an entrepreneur working to secure more funding for it. 

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Robin joins the penguin colony

Robin was named for Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Society, the announcement confirmed. The penguin and Dr. Ganzert recently appeared together during Robin’s first on-camera moment for an episode of the zoo’s behind-the-scenes video series, “Wild Rounds with Dr. Mike.”

The episode focused on Humboldt penguins and the risks facing the species in the wild. Humboldt penguins are native to the rocky Pacific coast and offshore islands of Peru and Chile, according to coverage from the Chicago Sun-Times.

Zoo staff said Robin is adjusting to life with the colony. She initially spent time with foster penguins before joining the larger group, where she began learning how to interact and communicate with other birds, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

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Conservation concerns in Peru

Robin’s debut also draws attention to the need for penguin conservation. Brookfield Zoo Chicago supports work at Punta San Juan, a protected peninsula and wildlife reserve in southern Peru.

The Humboldt penguin population at Punta San Juan has fallen sharply. The zoo’s press release said the area held thousands of penguins nearly a decade ago but fewer than 200 remained as of spring 2026.

Humboldt penguins face threats including stronger El Niño events, avian influenza, environmental contamination and changing fishing practices, according to Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

Guests visiting the Brookfield Zoo Chicago habitat can learn about Robin, the species’ natural environment and the zoo’s conservation work in Peru. Robin’s debut gives visitors a close look at a young penguin while connecting her arrival to the broader struggle of Humboldt penguins in the wild.