# @theoregonian on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C69yY1RtzTm
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/17511042-theoregonian-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/f44d1396a6.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-05-14T22:50:13.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Oregonian (@theoregonian) — https://gondola.cc/theoregonian

## Caption

Ópalo, the Oregon Zoo’s new Humboldt penguin is practicing her swim technique. The 1 ½ month old chick, who hatched in late March,  has spent the past several weeks growing feathers and preparing to swim.

“She couldn’t wait to get in the water,” said Travis Koons, who oversees the zoo’s penguin area. “Before long she’ll be much faster in the water than she is on land.” 

Once penguins grow their adult feathers, they can swim right away, Koons said. Ópalo followed penguin care staff to a shallow area adjacent to the Penguinarium’s deeper waters and waddled right in, kicking her webbed feet and tipping her head underwater to explore the bottom. 

Video courtesy of the @OregonZoo

#Portland #Oregon #Zoo #Penguin #Humboldt

## Stats

- **Views:** 4,695
- **Likes:** 355
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 1

## Tags

penguin, zoo, oregon, portland, humboldt

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