Festive Fun for Gentoo Penguins at GoTravelDaily’s London Aquarium

In an innovative approach to penguin care, an aquarium in London is enhancing the sensory experiences of its gentoo penguins. As the aquarium prepares for the return of human visitors post-lockdown, it has introduced festive Christmas movie screenings. Recently, the penguins were treated to the holiday classic Elf, ahead of the aquarium’s reopening.

Throughout the lockdown, the penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium have not had the usual influx of visitors, prompting the team to find creative solutions for their sensory enrichment needs. Aquarist Leah Pettitt noted that 2020 has brought numerous challenges in keeping the penguins engaged.

The aquarium, located in the vibrant South Bank area, is home to over 500 species, ranging from majestic sharks to intriguing moray eels. Leah emphasized the aquarium’s ongoing commitment to providing enriching environments for all creatures. “At Sea Life London Aquarium, our goal is to think outside the box to keep the animals entertained,” she stated.

Currently, the Sea Life team is playing classic holiday films on a large screen situated outside the penguin enclosure. This initiative is part of a broader series of screenings occurring at other Sea Life locations across the UK, and the penguins have shown a significant positive response to the array of festive images and sounds. Notably, Elf has emerged as a crowd favorite among the penguins, showcasing their playful nature.

Gentoo penguins represent the third largest species of penguin and are renowned for their playful behavior and speed. These charming birds are also monogamous, typically forming partnerships for several breeding seasons, and equally share parental responsibilities.

During the colder winter months, the aquarists at the aquarium carefully adjust the lighting and temperature within the penguin habitat to reflect the natural sunrise and sunset cycles found in the southern hemisphere, where gentoo penguins are predominantly located. This tailored environment promotes their natural seasonal behaviors, ultimately enhancing their well-being.

Additionally, the Sea Life Trust, the aquarium’s marine conservation charity partner, recently established the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland—a pioneering project where two belugas, Little Grey and Little White, are thriving in open waters after their transition from captivity.