Celebrate World Penguin Day At Brookfield Zoo

BROOKFIELD, IL – Penguin lovers can waddle their way to Brookfield Zoo on Saturday, April 21, and join in the World Penguin Day celebration. The zoo said activities for the entire family will be taking place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., both inside and outside The Living Coast exhibit, which is home to the zoo’s Humboldt penguins.

The first 1,000 kids to join the festivities will receive a commemorative World Penguin Day wristband, according to the zoo. The bands are the same colors as those on the zoo’s penguins, and are how the animal care staff identify each individual bird. Kids can check out the ID guide posted in The Living Coast’s Rocky Shores’ habitat to determine which penguin is wearing the same color band as theirs.

Zoogoers can also meet a few of the resident penguin “artists” outdoors at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The penguin’s one-of-a-kind pieces of art, created with nontoxic watercolors, will be on display. On the back of each canvas is a photo of the penguin “artist” and his/her footprint signature. The public also has an opportunity to win one of three paintings by entering an online random drawing, which will take place starting Wednesday, April 11, 9 a.m. through Wednesday, April 25, 5 p.m.

Guests can also attend Zoo Chats and see the penguins being fed in their habitat at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. According to the zoo, during the informal talks, animal care staff will share stories about the zoo’s colony of Humboldt penguins along with conservation efforts that are being done to help protect these charismatic animals. Additionally, at noon and 1:30 p.m., staff will provide the birds with special enrichment items as well as answer any questions from the public.

Photo provided by Chicago Zoological Society.