West Midlands Safari Park has welcomed two adorable new additions to Penguin Cove, following the hatching of two adorable Humboldt penguin chicks.

Guests visiting the Park may have already heard the fluffy duo before spotting them, as both chicks are proving to be particularly vocal additions to the colony.

In honour of the little chicks’ big voices, keepers have named them after musical legends Oasis and Ozzy - both names beginning with ‘O’ as all animals born at the Park in 2026 will have names starting with this letter.

Oasis, the eldest chick, was born on Wednesday 1 April to four-year-old Kris and her partner, 11-year-old Dumbledore, while Ozzy hatched on Thursday 9 April to parents four-year-old Kendall and 15-year-old Elder.

Both sets of parents have been doing an incredible job caring for their new arrivals behind the scenes, but now the chicks have started to venture out of the nest boxes and into the penguin habitat.

Humboldt penguins are native to the coasts of Peru and Chile and are currently classed as ‘vulnerable’ in the wild, due to threats including climate change, overfishing and habitat disturbance.

The births are an important contribution to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s Ex situ Programme (EEP), which helps to safeguard the future of the species.

The Park also supports penguins in the wild through donating funds and raising awareness for their conservation partner, the Global Penguin Society.

To celebrate the birth of the chicks, the Park will be offering free Little Penguin Wristbands throughout May, for children measuring above 0.8m and under 1m in height, to enjoy the smaller rides within the Adventure Theme Park.

Guests can visit Penguin Cove in the Safari Walk area of the Park and may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse, or at least hear the unmistakable chirps, of Oasis and Ozzy as they continue to grow.

The penguins can be seen as part of the admission charge, and guests are encouraged to book online in advance for the best prices. Children under the age of three are free. 

Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra, but Little Penguin Wristbands will be free for the month of May. Free Little Penguin Wristbands can be collected from the Wristband Office, and the offer is valid only with the purchase of a full-price Ride Wristband.

Admission includes a Free Return to visit again within six months, only when booking online in advance. 

More information is available on the Park’s website.