Penguin Awareness Day Highlights Critically Endangered African Penguins

January 21, 2026

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They waddle, they dive, and they charm guests with their unmistakable bray, and African penguins continue to capture hearts around the world. This Penguin Awareness Day, The Florida Aquarium is celebrating this charismatic animal while highlighting the important conservation efforts underway to protect this remarkable species for the future. Guests are invited to connect with African penguins up close and learn how collective action can make a meaningful difference for their survival.

Recently, guests enjoyed a special sight as African penguins waddled through the Aquarium during a supervised enrichment walk, a memorable moment captured in the photos and video link below.

**CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO & PHOTOS**
Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

Critically Endangered Species

Once numbering in the millions along Africa’s southwestern coast, fewer than 20,000 African penguins remain in the wild. Overfishing and changing ocean conditions have made finding food harder, while habitat loss and human activity continue to threaten their survival.

Here’s how you can help:

• Supporting sustainable seafood choices
• Reducing plastic waste
• Backing marine conservation programs
• Spreading awareness about African penguins

Penguin Encounter

At The Florida Aquarium, guests can engage with African penguins through The Ultimate Penguin Experience, a 45-minute, behind-the-scenes encounter with the Aquarium’s penguin colony. Led by the animal care team, the interactive experience offers insight into penguin behavior, daily care routines, and conservation efforts. During the encounter, penguins may waddle up to participants, and in some cases, guests may gently touch a penguin’s dense wing and feel its soft feathers.

African Penguin Fast Facts

• Status: Critically Endangered
• Height: 24–27 inches
• Weight: 4–11 pounds
• Speed: Up to 15 mph in the water
• Dive Depth: Up to 400 feet
• Unique Feature: Each penguin’s chest spot pattern is one-of-a-kind, like a fingerprint
• Vocalization: Makes a loud braying sound, similar to a donkey

For more information about The Florida Aquarium and the penguin encounter, click here.