Animals

Meet Mildred! Adorable Penguin Chick Named by Great Ormond Street Children

Good News Post

Aug 5, 2026 — 3 min read

Mildred wearing Identification Band designed by children from Great Ormond Street Hospital (C) ZSL - supplied London Zoo

By Community Correspondent

London Zoo's newest Humboldt penguin chick has been given a very special name after children from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) paid her a visit.

The fluffy chick, who hatched on 30 April, has been named Mildred after the hospital's Mildred Creak Unit, marking the start of a new partnership between London Zoo and GOSH.

*Mildred having Identification Band fitted (C) ZSL - supplied London Zoo*

Children from the ward were invited to Penguin Beach to meet Mildred for the first time.

During their visit, they helped feed the penguins, made enrichment toys for the birds and watched as Mildred was fitted with her official identification band – one they had helped to design.

The new partnership aims to bring nature closer to children receiving treatment at the hospital, helping to support their wellbeing while they're in hospital.

*Close up on Mildred wearing Identification Band (C) ZSL - supplied London Zoo*

Young patients will help shape the programme, with ideas including visits to London Zoo and videos showing the Zoo's animals having health checks and treatments. The hope is that seeing animals go through similar procedures, such as blood tests and X-rays, will help make some hospital experiences feel less worrying.

Carly Vassar, Chief of Mental Health at GOSH, said:

"Children and young people at our hospital often have really challenging journeys and they've told us they can feel lonely or isolated.

"We hope that by seeing animals having some of the same tests and procedures, it helps those experiences feel more familiar and a little less frightening."

*Mildred and her fellow chicks in the Penguin nursery (C) ZSL - supplied London Zoo*

Cat Hickey, ZSL's Head of Conservation Education, said the partnership was a natural fit.

"We know spending time with nature can have a positive effect on wellbeing," she said. "Whether families visit the Zoo or connect with our animals from their hospital beds, we hope this partnership helps bring those benefits to more young people."

The partnership is part of GOSH's Green Care programme, which uses the power of nature to support children during their recovery.

And for the children who named her, there will be an extra reason to keep an eye on Penguin Beach as Mildred grows up over the coming months.

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