What’s black and white and cute all over? Penguins! January 20th has gone to the birds! It’s Penguin Awareness Day, also known as National Penguin Awareness Day.
This annual “holiday” serves as an important reminder about the plight of the penguins. Many of these amazing, tuxedo-clad creatures are threatened by a variety of factors including climate change, loss of habitat, ship strikes, overfishing and oil. Some populations have decreased by 80 percent. Several of the species are considered endangered and vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 32 species are now extinct.
Weighing up to 60 pounds, the Emperor Penguin is the largest of the 17 or 18 penguin species and the Fairy Penguin is the smallest, weighing just over 2 pounds. Penguins are monogamous – they mate for life.
In honor of Penguin Awareness Day, The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy, Utah, is offering FREE ADMISSION to anyone who wears a tuxedo or black and white from head-to-toe.
How to Celebrate National Penguin Awareness Day
- Adopt a Penguin from the Defenders of Wildlife.
- In case you haven’t seen it yet or it's been a while, watch the popular 2005 film, March of the Penguins.
- Get ready to tap your toes! Watch the 2006 animated film, Happy Feet.
- Watch what happens as a four animals from the New York Central Zoo escape and find themselves out in the wild in the 2005 film, Madagascar. Besides penguins and other critters, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer also “star” in the fun animated film.
- Play National Geographic’s Save the Egg free online game.
- Check out these free coloring projects.
- How much do you know about penguins? Take this online quiz and find out.
- Watch ‘em in action at the Splash Zone Penguin Cam from Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Make this fun Penguin Hat!
Enjoy! Today is also National Cheese Lover’s Day. Check out these 30 ultimate ooey, gooey cheesy comfort food recipes.
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