NORWALK, CT – The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is bringing back one of the most popular species it’s ever displayed: African penguins, who will waddle in for a celebratory two-month encore exhibit beginning Feb. 14.
“It’s been two years since we last displayed penguins and we frequently still have visitors asking when or if they’ll ever be back,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “So we’re very excited to offer this special limited-time exhibit.”
“African Penguins” will be open Feb. 14-April 22 in an outdoor exhibit on the Aquarium’s riverfront courtyard. It’s free with admission. The small colony of penguins will be on loan from the Leo Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich (www.LEOzoo.org).
Plus, a special limited-availability behind-the-scenes penguin program will be offered daily Feb. 14-24 at 11:15 a.m. & 2:15 p.m. In the 30-minute experience, a maximum of 15 participants will go “backstage” to learn how the Aquarium cares for the penguins and to view a feeding. Cost is $25 ($22.50 for members) in addition to Aquarium admission. Get advance tickets to ensure your spot at www.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206.
Jack Schneider, the Aquarium’s curator of animals, said the African penguins will be an excellent complement to The Maritime Aquarium’s other current special exhibits, which also feature animals from the Africa continent: “Africa: From the Desert to the Sea” and “Meerkats.” Penguins aren’t commonly associated with Africa, but this species is found solely on that continent’s southern coast.
“Educating visitors on where penguins live may be one of the first basic goals of the exhibit,” Schneider said. “None of them live at the North Pole, or with Eskimos or polar bears. Some species do live in Antarctica. But many penguins can be found in warmer climates of the southern hemisphere, like African penguins in South Africa and several species that live up the western coast of South America, all the way to the equator and the Galapagos Islands.”
African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) stand about two feet tall and weigh 8 pounds. They’re recognizable by the black stripe that loops up across their chest and their pink “eyebrows.” Schneider said the pink “eyebrows” actually are an adaptation that helps them to survive in a warmer habitat like South Africa – or Norwalk. The “eyebrows” are featherless patches with lots of blood vessels underneath. When a penguin gets too hot, these patches get brighter as the penguin circulates more blood there to dissipate body heat.
African penguins also have evolved shorter feathers because, unlike Antarctic species, they do not face extreme cold.
The previous penguins exhibit at the Aquarium was open from February 2009-December 2010.
For more details about The Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits, programs and IMAX movies, go to www.maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700.