Celebrating Penguin Awareness Day

Every year on January 20th, the world comes together to celebrate Penguin Awareness Day, a special occasion dedicated to raising awareness about our feathered friends! Join us in learning all about penguins, their lifestyle and environment, and how we can help raise awareness and make changes to factors that threaten their existence.

Our SEA LIFE Aquariums across the UK are home to three species including a breeding colony, the adorable Humboldt Penguin, the cheeky Gentoo Penguin, and a group of the world’s smallest species, the Little Penguin.

Did you know?

• Penguins are flightless birds, with 18 different species varying in shape and size.
• Although they can't fly, their webbed feet and streamlined shape make them excellent swimmers!
• They all have black bodies and white bellies, this protective colouring helps them to hide from predators including orcas and seals.
• Penguins lay their eggs on land, where they raise their chicks. 
• Penguins are monogamous! Most penguins stay with their mate for several years and parents take turns keeping the eggs warm and feeding and protecting the chicks when they hatch.

Penguins in danger

Over half of all penguin species are listed as endangered. Penguin populations are threatened by oil spills, bycatch, overfishing, habitat loss and climate change.

• There are several threats to Gentoo penguins in particular - namely unsustainable fishing practices depleting their food sources and marine pollution (causing them to ingest plastics). 
• However, among the biggest threats to penguins, is climate change.
• Due to climate change, habitat loss is becoming a major problem for Emperor and Adelie penguins who live in Antarctica.
• Huge habitat loss is triggered by temperature changes as little as two degrees celsius.
• Melted sea ice, limits penguins who depend on this to find food and build nests. 

Let's help our feathered friends

• Ensuring the food we eat is caught or raised sustainably is key to preventing further damage to marine environments. Reading seafood watch lists can help us become responsible consumers.
• Reducing our carbon footprint helps reduce carbon emissions - slowing down climate change. Things like switching off lights when we are not using them, using less water, cycling to work, or reducing single-use plastic by switching to reusable products make a huge difference!
• Supporting conservation work and organisations who work towards conserving habitats and biodiversity, helps to preserve regions that are needed to ensure penguins can survive. 

Adopt a Penguin!

By purchasing a penguin adoption pack, you not only bring a little piece of the ocean into your home, but also support our conservation efforts to protect marine habitats. Your adoption pack helps contribute to the care and welfare of our penguins as well as providing support for our SEA LIFE Trust conservation projects, locally and around the world.

What's included?

Your virtual adoption pack includes:

• Penguin adoption certificate
• Penguin fact sheet
• Photo of your adopted penguin
• Contribution to the SEA LIFE Trust

Join us in our mission 

Since 2014, we’ve supported our global charity, the SEA LIFE Trust with their amazing conservation work to help protect the world's oceans.

In that time, we have helped the SEA LIFE Trust to provide vital practical care for marine animals through their sanctuaries, fund conservation projects, and deliver campaigns that make a positive difference to marine habitats and wildlife across the world.

Since 2014, we’ve supported the Trust to help:

• create new marine protected areas 
• reduce marine litter
• protect sea turtles
• rescue, rehabilitate, and release hundreds of sick and injured seal pups
• create the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland

We’ve already achieved a lot together and have plans to do even more in the future!

Penguin Awareness Day serves as a crucial reminder of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. By supporting organizations like the SEA LIFE Trust, and making a conscious effort to live more sustainably and reduce your carbon footprint we can actively contribute to the well-being of penguins and the health of our oceans.