Before I came to the park, I was lucky enough to train and care for a colony of African Black-footed penguins at another zoo. It was there that I caught the penguin bug and have loved them ever since.
Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration is one of my favorite times at our park because not only does it mean peppermint fudge hot chocolate, but it means the penguins come to visit. I am really excited for our visitors to see the penguin exhibit this year because we will be featuring two different species.
Once again, our friends from SeaWorld in San Antonio have brought some of their penguin ambassadors. Magallanic penguins are found across the coastlines of South America and can live in both hot and cold temperatures. The other species of penguins you can visit in the Ice Palace: A Penguin Paradise are African Black-footed penguins, visiting us from the Columbus Zoo. These penguins are found on the south-western coast of Africa and are similar in size and appearance but are missing an extra black stripe along their chest that the Magallanic species have. Can you think of another thing they have in common? They make a noise like a donkey. Both species have been nicknamed “jackass penguins,” due to their loud braying.
Guests will have an opportunity to walk through the Ice Palace to get an up-close encounter with the penguins. We are also offering behind-the-scenes tours of this attraction, where our guests will learn about penguins, hear about our conservation efforts and have the opportunity to meet one of these amazing birds.
One thing I have learned taking care of penguins is how to get the fish smell off of your hands. Here are my suggestions:
· Warm water and lemon juice
· Warm water and vanilla extract
· Toothpaste
The penguins and I can’t wait for you to visit Christmas Town and the Ice Palace.
