Sea World's penguin breeding program is great success with 13 new chicks expected this season

SPACE is likely to be at a premium in Sea World's Penguin Encounter exhibit during the holidays with the addition of four new chicks and nine on the way.

SPACE is likely to be at a premium in Sea World's Penguin Encounter exhibit during the Christmas Holidays with the addition of four new chicks and nine on the way.

The gentoo penguin breeding program is having its best year of all time in 2013.

Of 14 eggs laid throughout the latest season, four have hatched and the remaining nine are likely to hatch soon.

Senior penguin keeper Katrina Krygger said the chicks have hatched over the last week.

"One of the most exciting aspects for us this season is that Percy, our first ever gentoo penguin chick two years ago, has this year become a first time parent with the help of Geuce," she said.

"All the penguins have their own personality and it's great to watch them grow and develop.

"Alfie and Jack are parents of a chick while Widget and Ember, proud parents last year, have had two more this year so the brood is growing."

Keepers will not know the sex of the chicks until they receive the results of DNA tests in coming months, but the penguins are likely to grow to between five and seven kilograms and will mature in the next few years.

"This year's breeding season is similar to last year's in that the gentoo penguin nesting group has chosen its nesting sites within easy viewing of the windows so visitors to Sea World can get a close encounter with the new chicks," she said.

"The older of the chicks have doubled in weight from 100 grams to 200 grams since hatching after an average 38 day incubation period."