Dive into Creativity: SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Celebrates World Penguin Day with Artistic Flippers!

Did you know that penguins are not only expert swimmers but also budding Picassos of the animal kingdom? This World Penguin Day, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium is set to unveil the most charming and flappy art gala under the sea – all in the name of penguin welfare. Get ready to experience "Penguins Paint," a charity event where our flippered friends become works of art that will waddle straight into your heart.

A Splash of Colour, A Wave of Support

At the heart of our chilly, aquatic haven, our penguin pals are flapping their wings in excitement, as they prepare to become models for the canvas to create mesmerising penguin paintings. Each artwork is as unique as its creator, capturing the playful spirit and individuality of Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic residents. From abstract waddles to footprint-filled masterpieces, these penguin drawings are not just art; they're a call to action.

Why Penguin Art?

You might wonder, why choose art as a medium for conservation? Well, just like art, conservation requires creativity, passion, and a collective effort. These penguin paintings serve as a fun, engaging form of enrichment to highlight the importance of penguin welfare and conservation efforts. It's not every day you see a penguin wielding a paintbrush (or, more accurately, their feet) for a good cause!

“We are truly happy to be in a position to donate to three non-profit organisations, which are doing amazing work to protect New Zealand’s penguin populations. Our team is passionate about penguins and we’ve had so much fun creating our art over the last year. It’s awesome to be able to raise awareness about the problems that New Zealand’s wild penguins are facing and doing it in a fun way. The King and Gentoo penguins here at the Aquarium are ambassadors for their species, helping us inspire our visitors to learn more about these magnificent creatures and find out how we can help protect them and our local penguin species in the wild,” said Kristen Buckley, Penguin Keeper at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s.

Dive Deeper with Every Purchase 

The best part? You can take a piece of this aquatic artistry home! All penguin art pieces are up for sale, with proceeds going directly towards penguin welfare initiatives, including habitat preservation, research, and conservation projects. By purchasing a penguin painting, you're not just decorating your space; you're contributing to a wave of positive change that supports these adorable ambassadors of the Antarctic.

Join the Waddle

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium invites you to join us in making a splash for penguin conservation. This World Penguin Day, let's celebrate the incredible life of penguins, the artists among birds, by supporting their welfare in the most creative way possible. Whether you're an art aficionado, a penguin enthusiast, or simply someone who loves to make a difference, your support can help ensure these charismatic creatures continue to thrive for generations to come.

Experience the joy of penguin art, witness the creativity of nature's own, and be part of a global effort to safeguard our flippered friends. Let's turn the tide together – one penguin painting at a time!

Other ways you  can experience the beauty of penguin art and celebrate these beautiful aquatic birds is to join in the fun on Penguin Awareness Day on January 20th.

View video here:

World Penguin Day 2023

Learn how Penguin artwork funded vital devices to help the survival of our feathered friends in the wild in 2023

Last year, ahead of World Penguin Day on April 25th, the penguins at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s were busy creating artwork that the aquarium sold for a good cause.

Using art as a form of enrichment on the ice, the penguin keepers discovered that the penguins love to waddle through paint and make their own footprint artwork! 

Gentoo penguins are famous for their nesting process, and at the end of the last nesting season, keepers recycled the precious pebbles, innovatively turning them into unique art pieces. So far, over $8,700 has been raised for charitable organisations, including Dunedin Wildlife Hospital and Penguin Rescue. 

World Penguin Day is a celebratory and educative initiative that encourages learning about penguins and their fragile environments. This year, to mark the occasion, keepers are keen to spread their wings further, announcing that their penguin artwork is now available online, with 100 per cent of profits going towards penguin charities via Kelly Tarlton’s Marine Wildlife Trust.

Last year, the penguin’s artwork raised $6,599 to fund five GPS trackers. This enabled Otago University PhD student Rachel Hickcox to study the wild behaviour of hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) on Stewart Island. 

Rachel Hickcox shared, “This project to track yellow-eyed penguins, from Banks Peninsula to Stewart Island, has provided a complete picture of how and where the birds are foraging and what environmental factors are influencing their habitat preferences. Although individuals from the same breeding site show similarities in diving behaviour and foraging areas, there is variation in distribution, site selection, and behaviour across different breeding sites. This is largely due to the variability in the environment, prey abundance, and threats such as commercial fishery pressures, climate change, and human disturbance. This tracking data will help inform more effective and timely marine protection and spatial planning, an essential part of protecting this endangered species.” 

The online store is powered by Shopify and can be found at: www.penguinsforpenguins.myshopify.com  

Julian Bartram, Senior Community Manager at Shopify, commented, "Shopify powers some of New Zealand's most loved brands, and we're thrilled to have SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's new store on Shopify to help them raise funds through the sale of penguin artworks for charities protecting penguins in the wild." 

Visitors to the aquarium may catch the creative penguins at work. Alternatively, they can experience an on-the-ice encounter like no other as they venture into New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguin colony display with Penguin Passport. For more information, visit: www.visitsealife.com/auckland/tickets-passes/experiences/penguin-passport