An adorable penguin chick is causing quite a bit of excitement among staffers and officials at the Oregon Zoo.

After spending a couple of days trying to work its way out of its shell, the Humboldt penguin chick emerged on the morning of March 9. According to zoo officials, it typically takes about three days for the chicks to break out of their shells.

The young penguin, described as a “fluffy gray plush toy," is so small it can fit in the palm of a hand. Its gender won’t be known for a few weeks.

"The first hatching went really well," Gwen Harris, the zoo's senior keeper of birds, said in a statement posted on the zoo’s website. "The chick appears to be healthy and active, and its parents — Linus and Luna — are caring for it well."



