See Memphis Zoo's newest baby: A black-footed penguin named Elrond

Memphis Zoo just announced its newest addition to the ever-growing zoo family, an African black-footed penguin named Elrond.

On Oct. 22, the chick was hatched to his mother Betty and his father Pippin. His name is Elrond to keep with the "Lord of the Rings" theme his father was named after.

Elrond is the Memphis Zoo's 48th chick they have hatched. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African black-footed penguin Species Survival Plan. This is the first chick hatched to Betty and Pippin, both penguins in the SSP.

The Memphis Zoo established its African penguin colony in 1987 and has a total of 18 birds. Elrond is set to live in the hatchery for another two months with his keepers before he is introduced to the colony when he is waterproof.

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African black-footed penguins are considered the most endangered type of penguin, so Elrond's hatching is extremely special. The penguins can be found in colonies in southern and southwestern Africa. The wild population has been declining due to habitat loss, overfishing and pollution.

Jordan Green covers trending news for the USAToday Network. She can be reached via email atjordan.Green@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter/X@_green_jordan_.