Even as the first penguin chick from Veermata Jijabai Bhosale (VJB) zoo will turn a week old tomorrow on August 22, a team of veterinarians is keeping round the clock watch on the little one while that the mother, Flipper and father, Molt are doing a perfect job in raising the nestling. "The nest, which homes Molt and Flipper along with the nestlings, has been barricaded. The chick is doing well and is gaining weight gradually. Both the parents after eating their food, regurgitate (the process of bringing up the swallowed food), and feed the slurry to the chick just like other parent penguins," said a zoo official adding that they were keeping a regular watch and ensuring proper clean-up of the area near the nest. Vets informed that special care is being taken to ensure that regurgitated food not consumed by the chick is not lying around the nest. If found, it is quickly removed and cleaned to avoid infection. "It's better to maintain high levels of hygiene. However, we are happy seeing the first time parents do so well and take care of the chick in a perfect manner," said another official. Meanwhile the other penguins, despite being curious, are avoiding the barricaded area. The vets informed that there has been no changes in the diet of the penguins including the parents, and they continue feasting on fishes like tarli, bombil and eel.

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