African Penguin Day Will be Celebrated

African Penguin Day Will be Celebrated by Mystic Aquarium's Penguins
Thu, 9/3/2009 - 2:01 PM

By Becky Giantonio

Mystic, CT - Help Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration celebrate African Penguin Day on Friday, September 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with special presentations, penguin painting demonstrations and a penguin race! The celebration is in recognition of African Penguin Day on September 26 in South Africa, where aquarium staff members frequently travel to help field researchers in penguin conservation efforts.

The day begins at 11 a.m. on the main exhibit floor, where a penguin trainer will bring a feathered friend and talk about conservation of the species.

At noon, let the races begin! Six penguins will waddle to the finish line (or wherever they want!) to encourage guests to participate in the 3rd Annual Penguin Run/Walk on October 17. Guests will be able to enter to win a Penguin Encounter by donating one dollar to vote for the penguin they think will win. The race will be hosted by Glenn and Rebecca of WBMW’s (106.5 FM) Wakeup Club.

Proceeds from the donations will go toward the aquarium’s many penguin conservation efforts here and around the world. Over the last eight years, the world’s African penguin population has decreased by 42 percent. The penguins at the aquarium play an integral role in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, and the aquarium staff’s work with them is helping researchers better understand penguins in the wild.

At 1:15 p.m., watch a special penguin feeding and presentation at the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit, followed by a penguin painting demonstration at 2:30 p.m., where guests can watch the birds create one-of-a-kind pieces of work with their feet in the Penguin Discovery Zone. The artwork will be awarded to top fundraisers and finishers in the Penguin Run/Walk.

To register for the Penguin Run/Walk or learn more about African penguins, visit mysticaquarium.org.

WHAT: African Penguin Day, featuring special presentations, a penguin painting demonstration and the aquarium’s first-ever penguin race

WHEN: Friday, September 25 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355

COST: Aquarium admission: Adults $26, seniors $23, children (3 to 17) $19, under 2 free

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.

To view Mystic Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-38-Mystic_Aquarium_&_Institute_for_Exploration

Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-2094-African_Penguin_Day_Will_be_Celebrated_by_Mystic_Aquariums_Penguins