PHOENIX — Have you heard about this gift that is popular with Arizona residents? Due to strong demand, OdySea Aquarium is bringing back its Adopt-A-Penguin program for a second year!
The program lets you adopt one of five African penguins from the aquarium's colony of 38. You will receive an official certificate of adoption and a penguin plush that looks like the one of the five penguins you chose from. Your stuffed animal will even have a matching "friendship bracelet" (the color beads used to distinguish the penguins) that looks like the identification wing band the real penguin wears!
See how OdySea uses colorful wing bands to tell the penguins apart in the video above!
Looking to adopt more than one penguin? Jazzy the penguin and Chuck Norris the penguin are dating so, if you'd like, you can adopt the couple together!
The adoptions are $40 per penguin and all of the proceeds go straight to the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's Saving Animals From Extinction program, which is part of a global conservation effort to save the African penguin species from going extinct.
OdySea created the Adopt-A-Penguin program in 2018 and it was received extremely well by the community. The gift shop's first wave of penguin adoptions sold out immediately and they had to order more to meet the impressive demand!
African penguins are listed as an endangered species and were one of the first five animals added to AZA SAFE's list. By symbolically adopting a penguin of your choice, you are helping to directly support the care and conservation of endangered animals and ensuring a better world for your favorite animals. You may adopt a penguin online or on-site in OdySea's Treasures Gift Shop.
Each adoption package includes:
- Certificate of adoption
- Adopted penguin's biography including hatch date (birthday)
- Penguin plush with matching friendship bracelet
IF YOU GO:
OdySea Aquarium
9500 E Via De Ventura
Suite A-100
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
