Ripley's Aquarium announces names for 3 baby penguins

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The folks over at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies celebrated the birth of three baby penguins by holding a naming contest. The names of the new Ripley's family members were announced Tuesday.

They asked the public for help naming the three African black-footed baby penguins. The babies are doing well and they are being monitored day in and day out by an experienced team.

Haley and Glen are the proud parents to two of these penguins, who weighed in at 63 grams and 61 grams. Nick and Doza gave birth to the third penguin, who weighed in at 60 grams.

The aquarium first asked for name suggestions. They later narrowed the list down to 10 for people to vote on: Pablo, Priscilla, Penelope, Tiki, Smoky, Jack, Truman, Scarlett, Lady Bird and Levi.

On Tuesday, the aquarium announced the penguins would be named Levi, Penelope and Scarlett.

“We are excited about the births of these new baby penguins. It is a historical event at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies any time a baby penguin is born,"

regional manager Ryan DeSear said.

"Any birth is a beautiful thing here at the aquarium, but the birth of an endangered animal is truly spectacular. Best of all, the babies are ridiculously cute.”

African penguins are on the "Endangered" species list. The species is at high risk of extinction in the wild because there isn't enough food from over-fishing and pollution. In the past 80 years, the African penguin population has dropped from one million to 55,000.