Aquarium of Niagara 'Penguin Days': Themed weekend promotes awareness & action for vulnerable species

Fri, Mar 17th 2023 11:00 am

Modified group penguin encounters allow guests to view penguins without glass

√ ‘Penguin Days 2023: Adapting to Change, Protecting the Future’

“Penguin Days” – the Aquarium of Niagara’s popular penguin celebration is back. Events are slated for Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19, at 701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls.

Organizers said, “This year’s festivities take place during a challenging time for international bird populations, as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to loom large. Guests will experience first-hand how we have adapted our policies and procedures to protect our Humboldt penguin colony from this dangerous disease, while still finding ways to provide immersive and engaging experiences with these charismatic animals.”

The Aquarium of Niagara will offer free, modified public penguin encounters throughout the weekend, where guests can view penguins outside of their exhibit during a group presentation.

Participation will be limited to 75 guests in each session. Tickets will be available on-site on a first-come, first-served basis an hour before each scheduled encounter. Encounters will take place at 10:30 a.m. and noon Saturday, and at 10:30 a.m., noon, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Aquarium of Niagara members do not need to purchase admission. For more information, visit www.aquariumofniagara.org/penguin-days-2023.

Images courtesy of the Aquarium of Niagara

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Other visuals and activities available throughout the weekend include:

√ Prehistoric penguin display

√ Hands-on fun at a junior veterinarian station

√ Arts and crafts

√ Special penguin presentations, feedings, and visual enrichment sessions

Proceeds from a special raffle for penguin-painted merchandise, and a portion of designated penguin plush sales will go to support the Humboldt penguin research and recovery efforts of the Punta San Juan program.

The Aquarium of Niagara’s 16 Humboldt penguins serve as ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild, which are categorized as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The goal of the Aquarium of Niagara’s annual “Penguin Days” event is to create awareness around the threats posed to penguin populations and their habitats through up-close interactions with animals and hands-on activities.”