Tennesseean Penguins net names

The 15 new penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium finally got their names since coming to the aquarium thanks to a contest that received more than 8,200 entries. The judges didn’t just pick the names at random. The names had to fit each penguin’s different personalities. I got to wonder what these penguins are like based on the winning entries below.

Macaroni Males

• Iggie – Caitlin Crowley, Decatur, Ala.
• Merlin – Brittany Murray, Dalton
• Paulie – Stan Myatt, Murfreesboro

Macaroni Females

• Chaos – Stephen Culp, Chattanooga
• Noodle – Niccole Jones, Paducah, Ky.

Gentoo Males

• Big T – Allyson Ross, Soddy Daisy
• Blue – Kim Hooper, Chattanooga
• Nippy – Tim Richardson, Chattanooga
• Poncho – Ann Walton, Chattanooga
• Zeus – Niccole Click, Cowan, Tn.

Gentoo Females

• Biscuit – Dawn Paschal, Five Points, Ala.
• Bug – Kendra Thrash, Chattanooga
• Flower – Chrissy L. Beaty, Cleveland, Tn.
• Pebbles – Arianna Martin, Buford, Ga.
• Peeps – BJ Davis, Chattanooga

The winners received free passes to the Tennessee Aquarium to see their penguin in action.

Magellanic penguins go back to sea

YARMOUTH PORT, Mass., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — After several weeks of rehabilitation work, the rescue crew of IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and the Uruguayan organization SOCOBIOMA (the Society for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Maldonado) has released the first group of penguins rescued from an oil spill weeks ago. The birds are now completely rehabilitated and healthy.This rescue not only saved the lives of these animals, but also made it possible for IFAW to share its expertise in carrying out this type of rescue operation with SOCOBIOMA.”When a bird’s plumage is contaminated with oil or any chemical, it loses its permeability and, as a consequence, its ability to regulate its body temperature. In this case, the penguins are forced out of the freezing waters in a state of hypothermia, which leads to dehydration and starvation,” said Dr. Rodolfo da Silva of IFAW.

More than forty Magellan penguins have been cared for at the SOCOBIOMA center in Maldonado, Uruguay. “We are very pleased to be able to release our first group of penguins. This is an achievement we owe to the dedication and professionalism of our volunteers and specialists,” Dr. Lourdes Casas of SOCOBIOMA declared.

[via Earthtimes]

Excellent news! I’ve been following the blog entries on the IFAW site since they rescued the little guys. I’m glad there are people out there to care for the animals that are victims of human neglect. Sometimes I would like to do more to help. For now, I’ll help spread awareness.

San Francisco Zoo Welcomes Four New Penguins

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Four new penguins moved into their new home at the San Francisco Zoo Monday.

The four, 12-week-old Riley, Charlie, Thistle and Gnocchi, waddled onto Penguin Island before a crowd of curious onlookers and enthusiasts. They had spent two months in fish school, where they learned how to swim and feed just like the old-timers on the island.

The San Francisco Zoo has one of the most successful breeding colonies of Magellanic penguins in captivity, having fledged approximately 150 chicks since 1985.

The Zoo’s penguins can be found on Penguin Island, located across from the Lion House.

[via KCBS]

New Park in Argentina Protects 500,000 Penguins

The government of Argentina will create a new marine park along the coast of Patagonia, reports the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society. Located in Golfo San Jorge, the park will protect more than half a million penguins and other rare seabirds.

 

The park, which includes 250 square miles (647 square kilometers) of coastal waters and nearby islands along nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline, is a nesting and feeding ground for about quarter million pairs of Magellanic penguin, representing roughly 20 percent of the entire species.

[via Mongabay]

Fiordland Crested Penguins return to Milford Sound

The rare Fiordland Crested Penguins are returning to Milford Sound, which means winter is definitely on its way out.

Real Journeys nature guide Richard Heyward says the birds have been arriving in their ones and twos since mid-July. “They turn up about the same time every year – with most coming back in August. It’s a sure sign that spring is on its way.”

Fiordland Crested Penguins come to Milford Sound annually to nest and raise their chicks. “We’ve seen them at several sites along the shoreline as they head up into the forest to select their nest sites. They like to build their nests in the holes under the rocks.”

[via Scoop]

Friday Video: African Penguins at Boulders Beach

A video someone shot of some Blackfooted Penguins at Boulders Beach in South Africa. The penguins really don’t seem to be paying any mind to the tourists.

Rockhopper Poses for a Portrait

Credit: sypix at flickr