Penguin Awareness Day

Aotearoa New Zealand is home to more species of penguin than any other country. Of the 19 penguin species, a total of six penguin species breed in Aotearoa; four of which are found nowhere else in the world!

20 January is Penguin Awareness Day, here at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's we want to take this opportunity to raise awareness to the conservation issues of our native penguin species that are endemic to Aotearoa.

Through Kelly Tarlton's Marine Wildlife Trust, we are raising money via sales of our penguin plush toys and penguin art from 16 January through to 31 January.  The money raised from our retail sales will be donated to Penguin Rescue NZ and Dunedin Wildlife Hospital. 

Our fundraising efforts:

• From 16 January until the end of January, $5.00 from every Hoiho (Yellow Eyed Penguin), Kororā (Little Blue Penguin) & Rockhopper plush sold will be donated.
• All sales from the hand-painted Penguin Pebbles will be donated. The Penguin Pebbles are the ones Gentoo penguins used during breeding season and are beautifully hand-painted by our own Bird Team.
• All sales from the Penguin Footprint Portraits will be donated. These gorgeous, unique portraits are created by our very own penguins as part of their enrichment. Non-toxic paint is used to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our birds and has proven to be a great enrichment method for them while helping raise awareness and funds for their native, endangered feathered friends.

Penguin Footprint Portrait making in progress.

Find out some of the amazing work being done by our friends at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.