Mote’s penguin visitors greeted like rockstars

Thursday, October 20th, 2011 | Posted by Longboat Key News

The penguins of Penguin Island step out for a special photo opportunity with media guests at Mote Aquarium. Visitors to Penguin Island will observe the penguins in their temporary home and have twice-daily opportunities to see Mote staff interacting with them. Penguin Island will open Nov. 1 and run through February 2012. CREDIT: Mote Marine Laboratory

JEANETTE BILLINGS
Staff Writer

Much like a rock legend landing on our shores, local media paparazzi were on hand Monday, Oct. 17 to photograph the areas newest snowbirds: six black-footed penguins.

The birds will star in Mote’s Penguin Island exhibit set to open Nov. 1. The new guests waddled out dressed in their finest black and whites for a media meet and greet this week.

Sarasota’s first penguins include five male birds named Sly, South, Rudy, Oswald and Coaster, along with a female named Ninja.

“We’re so excited to have the penguins here and to know that they’re doing excellent in their new home,” said Katharine Nicolaisen, senior animal trainer at Mote. “We’re also very grateful to our partners at Six Flags for helping make Penguin Island at Mote a reality.”

The birds flew, by plane of course, Oct. 15 to Florida from their permanent home at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.

The black-footed penguins at Mote are native to South Africa, where they are endangered in the wild. Black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) face some of the same threats as marine life in the Gulf of Mexico — lack of food due to over fishing and environmental changes, oil pollution, habitat destruction and sea-level rise. By showcasing a far-away species that faces the same risks as many of the marine animals in the Gulf of Mexico, Mote will highlight the importance of working globally for marine conservation.

Guests will be able to visit the penguins daily beginning Nov. 1 during normal visiting hours in Mote Aquarium’s courtyard. Mote Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days per week, including all holidays, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for seniors (over 65), $12 for children (ages 4-12), and free for children 3 and younger. There is no additional cost to see the penguins.

Join Mote for ‘City Slickers’ viewing
Want to help support a Mote’s cause? Join Mote Nov. 8 for a viewing of the documentary “City Slickers” at the historic Burns Court Cinemas. This movie portrays the story of African penguins and people competing for suburban habitat. The film shows how seabirds and humans share beaches, streets and sometimes even bedrooms.

The evening will begin with a visit from Mote Aquarium’s Penguin Mascot, Percy, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres being served at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. Call (941) 388-4441 ext. 509 or email stacyalexander@mote.org.

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