Penguins Painting with a Purpose at Audubon Aquarium

You’ve seen them splashing and swimming in their Audubon Aquarium home, but did you know our penguin colony is made up of some of the most critically endangered penguins in the world?

African penguins like those at Audubon Aquarium are disappearing rapidly in the wild, their numbers are down an astonishing 97% percent in the past. They are threatened by oil spills, overfishing, and habitat loss due to climate change.

African Penguin Awareness Day is Saturday, October 11, 2025, and guests at Audubon Aquarium can learn about these popular animals and how important it is to protect them in the wild.

In advance of this special day at the Aquarium, some of the 23 birds in Audubon’s penguin colony are showing off their painting skills. They’ve been busy behind-the-scenes creating special penguin artwork that will be available for purchase during African Penguin Awaresness Day, all proceeds will support penguin conservation.

Special penguin themed activities and conservation chats will take place throughout the day, including a chance to talk with the penguin care team and learn about how they take care of these active birds. Our penguins eat twice a day - at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and their keepers will be near the penguin exhibit for special chats with visitors at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

If you can’t tell Calypso from Titan, or Gouda from Saltine, never fear! Each penguin has their own color-coded name band on their flippers. Guests can make and take their own name band to wear to show their support of these playful black and white birds.