Submitted by Aquarium of the Pacific
April 7, 2011, Long Beach, CA -- The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach welcomed five rescued animals today. The Magellanic penguins were found stranded off a beach in Brazil and are believed to be yearlings.
“You don’t normally find these penguins much farther north than the Falkland islands. The locations of their food sources are changing perhaps due to climate change, and penguins are having to travel farther in search of food,” said Dudley Wigdahl, Aquarium of the Pacific curator of marine mammals and birds.
Magellanic penguins are typically found near the tip of South America in the extreme southern regions of Chile and Argentina where they feed on small fish such as sardines and anchovies. Hundreds of these penguins have been found stranded in Brazil. After rescue, some of these birds are strong enough to return to the wild while others are deemed unreleasable due to health issues.
“When these penguins stranded in Rio, they were frail and emaciated after such a long swim up the Atlantic coast of South America. We’re happy to be able to provide a home and medical care for these unreleasable animals,” said Wigdahl.
The new penguins will be cared for by the Aquarium of the Pacific aviculturist (bird biologist) team and veterinary staff in the Aquarium’s behind-the-scenes holding area. The penguins will be moved on exhibit in summer of 2012 when the Aquarium debuts the June Keyes Penguin Habitat.
The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is the fourth largest aquarium in the nation. It displays over 11,000 animals in more than 50 exhibits that represent the diversity of the Pacific Ocean.
Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. Through these programs and a variety of multimedia experiences, the Aquarium provides opportunities to delve deeper into the ocean and learn more about our planet. It is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and a place where important topics facing our planet and our ocean are explored by scientists, policy-makers and stakeholders in the search for sustainable solutions.
In 2009 the Aquarium was awarded the Super Nova Star Award by the Alliance to Save Energy for being the nation’s most energy-efficient business with revenues under $150 million. For more about the Aquarium of the Pacific please call 562-590-3100 or visit www.aquariumofpacific.org .
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