Penguins International is doing a penguin bracket this year, made up of penguins in zoos and aquariums around the world. Their goal is to bring attention to the conservation efforts taking place in these facilities, as well as the education places do with their local communities about penguins. Why am I effort posting this? I have no idea. But here we go!
The winner receives the following fictional prizes:
Round 1 is midnight MDT March 19th to midnight March 21st. I assume each round after will also be two days. There's a total of 6 rounds.
Now, on to the penguins! Each of these has a full bio on the website. I'm going to shorten them to name, species, location, age, and a sentence or two summing up their bio.
Alastor - African, Memphis Zoo Tennessee USA, 4. A "big personality" who's popular with everyone and loves trying new things.
Andre - Macaroni, Folly Farm Wales, 24. Lived at Living Coasts with his mate, Millie, before being sent to Folly Farm after their closure; one of the oldest there.
Anya - Gentoo, Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World Thailand, 2. Loves his keepers and showing visitors all about different enrichment.
Bahati - African, Lehigh Valley Zoo Pennsylvania USA, 5. An ambassador who loves to talk over her trainer during presentations and get all of the attention.
Banks - African, Dakota Zoo North Dakota USA, 6. Shy and picky but very loving once he warms up.
Bruce - Northern Rockhopper, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, 13. Very flirty and silly, has his own viral GIF of him jumping. (This one: Penguin Jump GIF - Penguin Jump - Discover & Share GIFs)
Cliff - African, Adventure Aquarium New Jersey USA, 35. A grumpy old man whose partner, Mouse, passed away in 2021 after 20 years together.
Curry Skywalker - African, Pueblo Zoo Colorado USA, 7. Has only one foot due to an infection as a chick, but doesn't let that stop him.
Dory - African, Little Rock Zoo Arkansas USA, 3. A diva born with scoliosis.
Elmyr - African, Audubon Aquarium Louisiana USA, 7. Her egg was repaired with Elmer's glue, a testament to what keepers go through to help their colonies.
Ernie - Humboldt, Akron Zoo Ohio USA, 2. A happy, friendly boy, who loves playing with toys and spending time with his brother and his best friend.
ET - African, Metro Richmond Zoo Virginia USA, 43. The oldest living African Penguin ever. They don't mention that her newest partner, Einstein, is her son
Fitz - Magellanic, Shedd Aquarium Illinois USA, 13. A hand raised boy often called "Coach Fitz" because he loves supporting the other birds and leading encounters.
Hugh - Gentoo, Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium Ireland, 33. The oldest penguin in Ireland, he loves trying to split up couples and nipping keepers' legs.
Jack - Gentoo, Sea World Gold Coast Australia, 15. A ladies' man who has been with Alfie for 8 years but has several girlfriends on the side.
Jules - Humboldt, Aquarium of Niagara New York USA, 3. Loves interacting with people through the glass and is often used in encounters, was given the nickname "Honorary Research Assistant" for how much she liked helping during a research study being done with the colony.
Leo - Gentoo, The Deep UK, 9. A playful and friendly penguin who loves to photobomb.
Madiba - King, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Nebraska USA, rescued 2007. Got lost at sea with a Macaroni and ended up in South Africa, where they were rehabbed and taken to Omaha.
Mai - African, Hyatt Regency Maui Hawaii, 13. Sassy and bossy, likes things done "Mai way", loves doing enrichment paintings.
Monty - Humboldt, Santa Barbara Zoo California USA, 7. Became a star during COVID with one of his videos having over one million views, loves singing, has a book written about him (Monty's Marvelous Adventures Book).
Nugget - African, Tanganyika Wildlife Park Kansas USA, 2. Hand-raised, ambassador, sassy.
Otto - Humboldt, Rosamond Gifford Zoo New York USA, 7. Named after Syracuse University's mascot, who went to the final four the month he was born. Loves being an ambassador.
Pebble - Humboldt, Cotswolds Wildlife Park England, 9 months. A mischievous penguin who is the fourth generation born at Cotswolds, has his own book (Amazon.co.uk).
Rey - African, Monterey Bay Aquarium California USA, 8. Adventurous but an affectionate wife. The very short bio mentions "My disability may make me stand out", but they don't mention what her disability is.
Rio - Magellanic, John Ball Zoo Michigan USA, 17. "The perfect balance of wild and friendly".
Saskia - King, Sea World Gold Coast Australia, 2. Hand raised and extremely friendly.
Selene - African, Bayworld South Africa, 20 months. A blind girl who was abandoned by her parents at one month old, often works with "special needs" kids.
Sheila - Little Blue, Adventure Aquarium New Jersey USA, 8. A fantastic mother who has had three boyfriends and raised five chicks, including a pair of clutchmates.
Spike - King, Birdland England, 15. Hand raised and a bit of a celebrity, with over 15,000 followers on Facebook. Has worked with Sir David Attenborough and "helped choose the jokes that go on the back of those delicious penguin chocolate bars".
Wellington - Southern Rockhopper, Shedd Aquarium Illinois USA, 35. The Chicago Tribune’s “Chicagoan of the Year” - the first non-human to win - who loves field trips and has his own hashtag, #WheresWellington.
Whitey - Chinstrap, Newport Aquarium Kentucky USA, 35. A grumpy old man who likes being bossy and being buried in snow piles.
Zucca - Macaroni, Newport Aquarium Kentucky USA, 21. Staff favorite who loves to help with everything, has the biggest beak.
The winner receives the following fictional prizes:
- A crown made out of fish
- A personalized ice sculpture of themselves
- A private iceberg to call their own
- A guest spot on a penguin-themed talk show
- A starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster called “Penguin Champ”
- A ceremonial parade through the streets of Antarctica with other penguin celebrities
Round 1 is midnight MDT March 19th to midnight March 21st. I assume each round after will also be two days. There's a total of 6 rounds.
Now, on to the penguins! Each of these has a full bio on the website. I'm going to shorten them to name, species, location, age, and a sentence or two summing up their bio.
Alastor - African, Memphis Zoo Tennessee USA, 4. A "big personality" who's popular with everyone and loves trying new things.
Andre - Macaroni, Folly Farm Wales, 24. Lived at Living Coasts with his mate, Millie, before being sent to Folly Farm after their closure; one of the oldest there.
Anya - Gentoo, Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World Thailand, 2. Loves his keepers and showing visitors all about different enrichment.
Bahati - African, Lehigh Valley Zoo Pennsylvania USA, 5. An ambassador who loves to talk over her trainer during presentations and get all of the attention.
Banks - African, Dakota Zoo North Dakota USA, 6. Shy and picky but very loving once he warms up.
Bruce - Northern Rockhopper, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, 13. Very flirty and silly, has his own viral GIF of him jumping. (This one: Penguin Jump GIF - Penguin Jump - Discover & Share GIFs)
Cliff - African, Adventure Aquarium New Jersey USA, 35. A grumpy old man whose partner, Mouse, passed away in 2021 after 20 years together.
Curry Skywalker - African, Pueblo Zoo Colorado USA, 7. Has only one foot due to an infection as a chick, but doesn't let that stop him.
Dory - African, Little Rock Zoo Arkansas USA, 3. A diva born with scoliosis.
Elmyr - African, Audubon Aquarium Louisiana USA, 7. Her egg was repaired with Elmer's glue, a testament to what keepers go through to help their colonies.
Ernie - Humboldt, Akron Zoo Ohio USA, 2. A happy, friendly boy, who loves playing with toys and spending time with his brother and his best friend.
ET - African, Metro Richmond Zoo Virginia USA, 43. The oldest living African Penguin ever. They don't mention that her newest partner, Einstein, is her son
Fitz - Magellanic, Shedd Aquarium Illinois USA, 13. A hand raised boy often called "Coach Fitz" because he loves supporting the other birds and leading encounters.
Hugh - Gentoo, Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium Ireland, 33. The oldest penguin in Ireland, he loves trying to split up couples and nipping keepers' legs.
Jack - Gentoo, Sea World Gold Coast Australia, 15. A ladies' man who has been with Alfie for 8 years but has several girlfriends on the side.
Jules - Humboldt, Aquarium of Niagara New York USA, 3. Loves interacting with people through the glass and is often used in encounters, was given the nickname "Honorary Research Assistant" for how much she liked helping during a research study being done with the colony.
Leo - Gentoo, The Deep UK, 9. A playful and friendly penguin who loves to photobomb.
Madiba - King, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Nebraska USA, rescued 2007. Got lost at sea with a Macaroni and ended up in South Africa, where they were rehabbed and taken to Omaha.
Mai - African, Hyatt Regency Maui Hawaii, 13. Sassy and bossy, likes things done "Mai way", loves doing enrichment paintings.
Monty - Humboldt, Santa Barbara Zoo California USA, 7. Became a star during COVID with one of his videos having over one million views, loves singing, has a book written about him (Monty's Marvelous Adventures Book).
Nugget - African, Tanganyika Wildlife Park Kansas USA, 2. Hand-raised, ambassador, sassy.
Otto - Humboldt, Rosamond Gifford Zoo New York USA, 7. Named after Syracuse University's mascot, who went to the final four the month he was born. Loves being an ambassador.
Pebble - Humboldt, Cotswolds Wildlife Park England, 9 months. A mischievous penguin who is the fourth generation born at Cotswolds, has his own book (Amazon.co.uk).
Rey - African, Monterey Bay Aquarium California USA, 8. Adventurous but an affectionate wife. The very short bio mentions "My disability may make me stand out", but they don't mention what her disability is.
Rio - Magellanic, John Ball Zoo Michigan USA, 17. "The perfect balance of wild and friendly".
Saskia - King, Sea World Gold Coast Australia, 2. Hand raised and extremely friendly.
Selene - African, Bayworld South Africa, 20 months. A blind girl who was abandoned by her parents at one month old, often works with "special needs" kids.
Sheila - Little Blue, Adventure Aquarium New Jersey USA, 8. A fantastic mother who has had three boyfriends and raised five chicks, including a pair of clutchmates.
Spike - King, Birdland England, 15. Hand raised and a bit of a celebrity, with over 15,000 followers on Facebook. Has worked with Sir David Attenborough and "helped choose the jokes that go on the back of those delicious penguin chocolate bars".
Wellington - Southern Rockhopper, Shedd Aquarium Illinois USA, 35. The Chicago Tribune’s “Chicagoan of the Year” - the first non-human to win - who loves field trips and has his own hashtag, #WheresWellington.
Whitey - Chinstrap, Newport Aquarium Kentucky USA, 35. A grumpy old man who likes being bossy and being buried in snow piles.
Zucca - Macaroni, Newport Aquarium Kentucky USA, 21. Staff favorite who loves to help with everything, has the biggest beak.
