World's first test-tube penguin born

A baby bird in California has made history after becoming the world’s first penguin to be conceived using artificial insemination, the Daily Mail reported.

The unnamed female Magellanic penguin was hatched in May at SeaWorld California after sperm was frozen and then thawed.

The 12-week-old penguin was hand-reared at the attraction’s Penguin Encounter nursery, but is now feeding on fish.

Although she doesn't have an official name, she is referred to as 184. She has now joined other Magellanic penguin chicks that were conceived naturally at the attraction.

Researchers are hoping to use these artificial insemination techniques to increase the genetic diversity of penguin species, and learn more about their biology.

This research could then be used to sustain, or improve, penguin populations around the world.

After the bird hatched, she was fed a special formula of ground herring fillets, krill, minerals, vitamins and water five times a day during the first four weeks.

The scientific first is the result of a decade of research by Dr. Todd Robeck, SeaWorld’s vice President of Theriogenology, and Dr. Justine O’Brien, the reproductive centre’s Scientific Director.