Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has been enjoying its colony of 15 Little Blue Penguins since July, but now it’s time to share the Blues.
This week, the facility announced that five of its Little Blues — Sheldon, Squid, Craig, Odette + Bo — had embarked on a cross-country move to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
The move is part of an international Species Survival Plan (SSP) that works to maintain the genetic diversity of species in zoos + aquariums — with hopes that the penguins will become part of new breeding colonies.
Birch Aquarium experts bid farewell to a few of the Little Blue Penguins — but with good reason.
Photo via Birch Aquarium
Jenn Nero Moffatt, Senior Director of Animal Care, Science and Conservation at Birch Aquarium, says collaboration like this is “essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving penguin population across the US.”
You can still see the other 10 tiny penguins — each about the size of a California Burrito — daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins habitat.
