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They
waddle, they bray, they don a tuxedo made of feathers and they are
a fan-favorite here at Mystic Aquarium. In honor of African
Penguin Awareness Day this Saturday, we pulled some fun
insights from our care team along with some shocking facts about
their endangered counterparts in South Africa.
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The
Penguins Train the Trainers (Well, Sort of...)
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"Each penguin chooses whether he or she
wants to participate in training routines, and that’s
ok. They also take the lead in reacting to new stimulus,
including trainers.”
-Josh Davis, Senior
Penguin Trainer
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All of the animals in our care are trained
through positive reinforcement, meaning they can refuse to
complete a behavior. And, each penguin responds differently
to new staff. It takes time to build the animal/trainer
relationship – sometimes even several years-worth of
baby-steps – and is always on the animals’ terms.
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We Build
Bonds with Each Penguin
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“Our encounter program guests are surprised to
see that our training is relationship-based rather than
food motivated.”
-Aimee Sugrue, Penguin Trainer
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When trainers ask each penguin for a certain
husbandry behavior, like opening their beak for an oral
exam, the trainers often scratch behind the penguins’ head
as a reward, mimicking their natural preening instincts.
When trainers do offer fish as a ‘reward,’ more often than
not, the penguin refuses the fish and prefers the attention
from their trainer as positive reinforcement instead.
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African
Penguins Need the Most Help
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“Due to small or rapidly declining
populations, these species require immediate scientific
collaboration and policy intervention.”
-The Steering Committee
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Species Survival Commission Penguin Specialist Group
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Of the 18 recognized penguin species, African
penguins were identified as one in the most critical need
of conservation action. That’s alarming. In
fact, they could very well go extinct within our lifetime
if we don’t take action to protect, conserve and learn
about this species.
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When You
Run (or Walk), You Help Them
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“Every dollar you raise and each time your
feet hit the ground during our Run/Walk for the Penguins
fundraiser, you’re helping our conservation, education and
research efforts that are safeguarding their future.”
-Tracy Camp, Assistant
Supervisor of Penguins
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Registration
for the 5k run or 2 mile walk along with donations
collected through the free fundraising initiative help
support our work in African penguin conservation. Fun race,
fund raise, save penguins; how can you say no to
that?
Plus, new this year, runners and
walkers registered for the Run/Walk for the
Penguins will receive a fun medal designed to showcase
the penguins’ sleek appearance and also shows off our
penguin’s iconic beaded identification bracelets.
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