Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach celebrated a very special arrival – times two! Critically endangered African penguin chicks, Vic and Chelle, are the third and fourth chicks born to the aquarium’s colony and the first offspring for proud penguin parents Carson and Scarlette. Vic and Chelle have been growing behind the scenes under the attentive care of Ripley’s animal care team and their dedicated penguin parents. They made their public debut on July 7.
Vic hatched May 8, 2026, weighing 59 grams, followed by Chelle on May 11, weighing 63 grams. Their arrival brings the aquarium’s African penguin colony to 23 and supports Ripley’s participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Penguin Species Survival Plan. Vic and Chelle will remain permanent residents of Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach.
African penguins were reclassified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2024 as their wild population continues to decline. Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Penguin Species Survival Plan®, a collaborative program designed to maintain a genetically diverse and sustainable population of African penguins in human care.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is dedicated to providing exceptional animal care, supporting conservation initiatives and creating engaging educational experiences that inspire guests to protect the world’s aquatic species. The aquarium participates in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, a collaborative population-management program among AZA-accredited institutions. Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is located at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
