All About Galapagos Penguins
The Galapagos Penguin is the smallest of the warm weather penguins. This penguin stands approximately 16-18 inches tall and weighs around 5 pounds. The Galapagos Penguin lives and breeds on the Galapagos Islands and on Isabella Island which are located north of the Equator. These penguins will only mate when food is plentiful. Galapagos Penguins almost always lay two eggs, however only one chick will survive. The parent penguins share the responsibility of caring for the eggs. The chicks will hatch after around 38-40 days. Upon hatching, the chicks are cared for by both parents. The chick is guarded, round the clock for 30 days after it hatches. When the chicks reach 60-65 days old they leave their nests for good and go to sea. The Galapagos Penguins survive mainly on mullet and sardines. These penguins are considered to be endangered, because when the 1970 El Nino storm hit over 70% of these penguins died due to food shortage.