Penguins are not native to India, but many Indian youngsters today grew up watching the animated series 'Pingu.' Now, 'Pingu' fans have an opportunity to meet him for real, in India itself. One of the three penguin chicks recently born in Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhonsale Zoo, popularly known as the Byculla zoo, has been named Pingu. The other two are named Nody and Tom, also named after popular cartoon characters.

The zoo, which hosts the Humboldt penguins that are native to South America, has a total of 21 penguins now. The new chicks were born in March, but the details of their birth were only revealed recently on April 25, World Penguin Day. 

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Pingu, the youngest of the lot, was born on March 11, and his elder brothers were born on March 4 and 7, to their 'proud parents. Pingu's and Tom's parents are Donald and Daisy, while Noddy's are Popoy and Olive. Byculla Zoo is the first Indian zoo to have penguins, as of 2016. In 2023, three chicks were born, named Coco, Stella, and Jerry. They are housed in specially designed, climate-controlled enclosures that resemble their natural habitats, such as rocky shores, saltwater pools, nesting areas, and soft flooring. They also have special blast-frozen export-quality fish as their diet and are given specialised care. 

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