World Penguin Day

What Is World Penguin Day?

April 25 is World Penguin Day. Every year around this time, Adélie penguins in Antarctica, having finished their breeding season and heading out to sea, appear near McMurdo Station, a US research base. Researchers at the base began celebrating the day, and this is said to be how World Penguin Day started. It has since spread around the world, and zoos and aquariums in Japan also share information about penguins on this day.

Penguin Basics

Penguins are often associated with Antarctica, but their lives are surprisingly varied.

• Number of species: Penguins are often classified into 6 genera and 19 species, although the count can change depending on how they are classified.
• Where they live: Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere and also breed in South America, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.
• Only two breed mainly in Antarctica: Only two species, the emperor penguin and the Adélie penguin, breed mainly on the Antarctic continent.
• A big size gap: The smallest, the little penguin (fairy penguin), is about 40 cm long, while the largest, the emperor penguin, reaches 100 to 130 cm.

Emperor Penguins Raise Their Chicks in the Antarctic Winter

Most penguins breed from spring to summer, but emperor penguins breed on the Antarctic continent in winter, when air temperatures can drop to -40°C and strong winds blow. For this reason, they are sometimes described as the bird with the harshest child-rearing conditions in the world. Older chicks are also known to gather in groups called "crèches," a French word meaning nursery.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Check the official websites or social media of nearby zoos and aquariums for penguin photos and stories
• At an aquarium, compare the markings and sizes of different penguin species
• Enjoy picture books, movies, or characters featuring penguins with your family
• Help protect the oceans where penguins live by taking your trash home and making other small eco-friendly choices

Thinking of Antarctica's Little Travelers

World Penguin Day was born from researchers in Antarctica watching penguins on the move. Behind their charming waddle, penguins survive in a harsh natural environment. On April 25, take a moment to think about how penguins live and about the oceans they call home.