September 22, 2009
ADVENTURE AQUARIUM HOSTS 1ST ANNUAL AFRICAN PENGUIN DAY
Did you know that there were about 1.5 million adult African Penguins in South Africa in the 1930s, and that today, human activities have reduced that number by a staggering 90 percent? In fact, African Penguins, together with over a dozen other sea birds species found in South Africa, are now considered to be threatened and vulnerable to extinction!
In support of its adorable, flightless feathered friends, Adventure Aquarium is encouraging penguin-lovers near and far to waddle on down to the Camden Waterfront on Saturday, September 26, 2009 to help support some of the cutest little tux-wearing tykes on the planet during its first annual "African Penguin Day" celebration. The day will feature an array of penguin-focused activities, including opportunities to meet an African Penguin up close and in person, and chances to go on exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of the Aquarium's widely popular Penguin Island Exhibit. Adventure Aquarium will also showcase its penguins' artistic prowess with LIVE penguin painting sessions. Just wait until you see how these adorable penguins create their very own works of art AND help protect their counterparts in the wild!
African Penguin Day was initiated in 2009 by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCOBB), a non-profit sea bird rehabilitation centre based in Cape Town, South Africa that aims to conserve and protect South Africa's sea birds, especially threatened species. As an ongoing supporter of SANCOBB, Adventure Aquarium's goal in hosting "African Penguin Day" is to help raise both funds and awareness in support of this much loved, yet vulnerable species.
African Penguin Day at Adventure Aquarium will feature an assortment of penguin-focused activities, all of which help promote education about, and the conservation of, African Black-Footed Penguins. For example, guests can meet an African Penguin in person during up-close penguin appearances and speak with biologists one-on-one about penguin behavior. Guests can also sign up for exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of the Aquarium's widely popular Penguin Island Exhibit for only a $10 donation, all of which will go directly to SANCCOB, which has helped treat more than 82,000 sick, injured, orphaned and oiled sea birds throughout the last four decades. And, only on African Penguin Day at Adventure Aquarium guest can enjoy LIVE Penguin Painting sessions at Penguin Island. See these "Penguin Picassos" in person as they create unique works of art using only non-toxic finger paints and the feet, bellies and tails that their mamas' gave them! The activity is one of many forms of animal enrichment the African Penguins enjoy at Adventure Aquarium, and also helps support their penguin counterparts in the wild.
In fact, Adventure Aquarium will showcase its original penguin artwork in a Gallery setting in the Gift Shop throughout the day. Each work of art is an original created by the African Penguins at Adventure Aquarium. A bio card for the penguin artist is also affixed to the back of the artwork. The Aquarium will also feature its Penguin Adoption Program, which allows guest to adopt their very own African Penguin. Adoptive penguin "parents" will receive a certificate of adoption, a fact sheet and color photo of your new penguin pal, and an original penguin painting created by YOUR penguin! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of both Penguin Paintings and Penguin Adoptions goes directly to SANCCOB.
So, gather your penguin-loving family and friends and come on out to support Adventure Aquarium's very first African Penguin Day on Saturday, September 26th, 2009. To learn more, visit www.AdventureAquarium.com. To learn more about the great work of SANCCOB, visit www.sanccob.co.
