Penguins spread the love for Valentine's Day

By Mystic Aquarium

MYSTIC, CT - As the ultimate tribute to Valentine’s Day, two mated African penguin pairs at Mystic Aquarium have created 50 original paintings together. These paintings ($124.99) are available for purchase beginning today in the Aquarium Store and at mysticaquarium.org.

The paintings were created by Green-Blue and Green-Black, who have hatched and raised several chicks together, and Gray-Silver and Yellow-Red, who have been a pair for 17 years. Green-Black came to Mystic Aquarium in 2003 to be paired with Green-Blue as part of the Species Survival Plan. Gray-Silver and Yellow-Red were both born at Mystic Aquarium and are two of our most famous penguins, appearing on multiple local and national television programs.

Creating these one-of-a-kind works with their feet is a form of enrichment for the penguin pairs. First, the penguin sticks out its feet (they have been trained to do this as part of the aquarium’s animal care program), and a trainer dabs non-toxic paint on them. A canvas is laid on the floor, and the penguin is set down on it, free to waddle wherever it wants. Once the paint begins to fade, a new color is applied to the second penguin’s feet. That penguin walks across the canvas to create a layer of hues.

The 16-inch-by-20-inch paintings are double-matted in white with black inner trim and encased in a black wood frame. They are available in two three-color combinations: dark red, blue and green and purple, blue and green.

A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward the aquarium’s many penguin conservation efforts here and across the world. The African penguin was listed as an endangered species in 2010.

The Aquarium Store is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (gates close at 4 p.m.). Visit mysticaquarium.org to learn more about the African penguins at Mystic Aquarium and to watch a video of them creating their art. 

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