The adventure continues! 🐧🐧
This morning, Edward and Annie explored Shedd’s rotunda. They are a bonded pair of rockhopper penguins, which means they are together for nesting season. Springtime is nesting season for penguins at Shedd, and this year is no different! (1/3) 👇
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Shedd Aquarium
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Sparking compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world 
Home of Wellington the 
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Home of Wellington the Members & guests must reserve tickets in advance. Shedd Aquarium’s Tweets
Penguins in the Amazon?! 🐧🌴
Some of the penguins went on a field trip to meet other animals at Shedd. Wellington seemed most interested in the fishes in Amazon Rising! The black-barred silver dollars also seemed interested in their unusual visitor.
Time for a polar field trip! 🐧🐳❄️ Penguins Tilly and near-yearling Carmen came face to face with beluga Kayavak. Not all penguins live in super cold regions. Magellanic penguins like Tilly and Carmen are temperate-weather birds.
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While this may be a strange time for us, these days feel normal for animals at Shedd. Our caregivers are constantly providing new experiences for the animals to explore and express their natural behaviors with. Let us know what penguin activities you would like to see! (3/3)
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Penguins like Edward and Annie will begin to build their nests next week. Join us digitally for nesting coverage! In the meantime, we will be sharing lots of different animal updates (and yes, Wellington will return!) 🐧👀 (2/3)
Sea otters are equipped with a "pocket" under each arm, a handy storage pouch where they keep tools or some snacks. Here, Yaku pulls some clams out of his pocket!
Hopping into the weekend the Wellington way! 🐧🐧🐧 The front steps of Shedd are perfect for a rockhopper penguin's preferred method of getting around: hopping! Early spring in Chicago is around the same temperature many rockhoppers thrive in—great for a quick outdoor adventure.
Wellington meets the sea otters! 🦦🐧 Wellington the rockhopper continued his field trip around the aquarium by visiting the Shedd otter habitat. #WheresWellingtonWednesday (1/2)
Where's Wellington now? 🐧 This little rockhopper took a tour of Shedd's Wild Reef...and he's not alone! A few of the Magellanic penguins that call Shedd home joined this penguin party, checking out this massive habitat.
The penguins aren’t the only animals taking field trips around the aquarium! Tyson the prehensile-tailed porcupine visited the penguin habitat while munching on a hard biscuit, which helps file down his constantly-growing teeth.
#WheresWellington now? The Pacific Northwest in Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium! 🐧🦦 From small tide pool dwellers to fuzzy otters and belugas, the Pacific Northwest is full of incredibly diverse aquatic life, both at Shedd and out in the world.
Where's Wellington now? The Caribbean! 🐧🏝️
Wellington's adventures took him to Shedd's Caribbean Reef. From colorful queen angelfish to luminescent lookdowns and even bonnethead sharks, there was so much for Wellington to see! How many species can you identify?
Where's Wellington?? 🐧 Fun fact: Wellington had a "favorite fish" on his field trip through Amazon Rising! He seemed extra interested in the neon-colored cardinal tetras.
It's a #StPatricksDay penguin party! 💚🐧 While we can't go out & party, the animals can! Our caretakers are committed to providing enriching activities (like edible shamrocks) for the animals with or without guests here to see it. Check in throughout the day to see more!
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At 32 years old, Wellington is no spring chicken (and not just because he’s a penguin!) He is more than double the life expectancy of a rockhopper. Thanks to laser therapy and cataract surgeries, he’s “still got it” and can enjoy going on enriching adventures. (2/2)
There's so much for Bosco to see on his adventure in Underwater Beauty! 🐧
Penguins like Bosco the rockhopper stand out with those bright yellow "eyebrow" crest feathers. During mating displays, rockhoppers shake their heads to make those long yellow plumes whirl.
Where's Wellington? We're going to take you "around the world with Wellington!" 🐧🌏 First stop: The Great Lakes! These lake sturgeon are prehistoric giants in our backyard. More than 3,500 plant and animal species—some found nowhere else on the planet—call the region home!
Where’s Wellington? Continuing his outdoor adventure with nesting pair Edward and Annie! 🐧🐧🐧 Rockhoppers don’t just do their distinctive hops on rocks (or, in this case, stairs)—they even hop into the water feet-first!
Luna's "pocket" in action! 🦦🦐
Much of the training animals at Shedd do comes from their natural behaviors, like Luna using her pocket—a fold of skin where otters can store food, toys and more.
Nothing says "happy #firstdayofspring" like newborn baby seahorses! 🌸🌈 Yesterday, these baby oceanic seahorses were birthed by their father—that's right! The male seahorses carries the eggs in his pouch until he gives birth. Happy birthday, little ones. 💙
It’s Luna’s otter pocket challenge! 🦦 Sea otters like Luna are equipped with a pocket-like flap of skin under their arms, but just how much can they fit in that pocket? See how many tasty krill cubes Luna stashes.
What's better than one penguin? Three penguins! 🐧🐧🐧 Wellington, Annie and Edward explored Polar Play Zone and discovered a GIANT emperor penguin. (Wait for the hop at the end. 😍)
With nesting season already starting at Shedd, fun fact: Edward is Wellington's offspring!
Sea otters make everything better.
💙 🦦 Let’s all pause, take a big breath and watch Yaku play!
Wait for it…hello, baby sea pancake! Shedd has welcomed six baby cownose rays since February. These speedy little pups are born fully formed and ready to swim and explore.
The penguins explore the gift shop! 🐧 Penguins Izzy and Carmen took a field trip to Shedd's gift shop and found...even more penguins.
Penguins aren’t the only birds visiting around the aquarium! 🦉🐧 At 12-14 days old, he was found on the ground with multiple fractures in his right wing. In October 2004, he found a home at Shedd and is now the best flier among the rescued birds of prey in our care!
Nothing like Iris the penguin taking a skyline stroll to help walk us into a sunny weekend. 🐧😊
Where's Wellington now? This time, his adventures took him to the Shedd gift shop! 🐧 While the store is closed along with our doors, Wellington can still take a peek inside. Rockhoppers can see well underwater and above the surface...and that includes the Shedd Store.
Happy birthday to sea otter Yaku! 🦦 At 20 years old, Yaku is both the oldest and the largest otter at Shedd. His big birthday bash was complete with a yummy seafood "cake" of capelin (fish), oysters, gelatin and clam paste and...(1/4)
Waddling towards Halloween weekend like Wellington's offspring, Bosco! 🎃🐧 Penguins will sometimes take items like toys back to their nest areas when they take a liking to them.
Wellington hops by Wild Reef for a visit! 🐧 Thousands of animals live on coral reefs. But a rockhopper would be no stranger to a crowd: southern rockhoppers can live together in breeding colonies of TENS of thousands. Imagine thousands of Wellingtons! #WheresWellington
Running into the weekend like the penguin chicks in the Abbott Oceanarium! 🔊 Sound on for the flop flop flop of penguin feet.
They're waddling down the field, and...goooalll! ⚽🐧🏈
Just in time for the height of fall football season, Da Penguins visited our neighbor and the home of Da and , !
Today, Shedd Aquarium turns 90 years old! 🎂 #OTD in 1930, guests walked into the foyer—like Wellington here!🐧—and into Shedd's aquatic world for the first time. We miss our guests, and we can't wait to celebrate with you in person. Here's to 90 more years! #ItsTimeForShedd
We could all use a pause for paws. 🦦 Sure, grooming means maximum cuteness, but it's a matter of survival for sea otters like Kiana. Sea otters groom in such a way that they ensure cold water stays out, warmth stays in!
The baby penguin chicks take a field trip! 🐧 The four Magellanic penguin chicks are already starting their adventures around the aquarium, like here in the Abbott Oceanarium. They will soon lose those fluffy feathers as they start to swim.
The penguin chicks have started swimming! 🐧 The four young penguins were recently introduced to water and are ready to make a splash—a major milestone! Once they are fully comfortable swimming, they'll join the rest of the penguin colony.
There's so much for penguins Iris, Calista and Bosco to explore in Underwater Beauty! 🐧🐠 Bosco the rockhopper stands out, but you can also tell Magellanic penguin Calista from Iris by looking at her lighter near-yearling feathers. Hopefully we will see new chicks this year too!
🎶Yaku's got a pocket, got a pocketful of clams!🎶
Sea otters are equipped with a "pocket" under each arm. These handy storage pouches can be filled with tools, leftovers and, in a Shedd otter’s case, toys. 🦦🦪
Baby penguin update! 🐧🐣 With four new arrivals, this is the most Magellanic penguins born and bred at the aquarium after the annual nesting season, and they're growing fast! (1/2)
Those hops! 🐧 #WheresWellington this time? Taking a look at the mangrove habitat in Wild Reef with Magellanic penguin Tilly! Watch the difference between how these two penguins move: while Wellington prefers hopping, Tilly mainly waddles. (But both are equally cute.)
Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp so they don't float away! 🦦 This is useful while taking a snooze or while grooming—like Kiana is doing here.
Reminder that sea otters like little Watson have paw pads. 🐾🦦 These pads are rough, helping them grasp their slippery or spiny, like sea urchins, prey.
When in the water, penguins are powerhouses! 💪🐧
Magellanic penguins are excellent long-distance swimmers. With their powerful wings, they can hit speeds of 15 mph. Monte explored the Polar Play Zone and stopped to watch Dolores and Mercedes swim.
Safety first! At Shedd, the animal care never stops or slows down, and we are being extra cautious to keep both the animals and our colleagues healthy and safe with masks and social distancing. 🦦💙
BIG NEWS: Bella has given birth to an energetic male calf!
The calf was born on 8/21 at 8:42 p.m. after 15 hours of labor. This was a noteworthy birth, with the calf born headfirst instead of the usual fluke-first birth.
More on the blog: shedd.link/3jaJU3I
It's a penguin parade! 🐧 Magellanic penguin chick Sir Elio and adults Dolores and Sparrow waddled into the 4-D theatre to explore.
Fun fact: penguins waddle because their legs are behind their hips!
Baby belugas have no teeth! Just like baby humans, belugas are completely toothless when they're young. At nearly a year old, little Annik is still all gums (and already enjoys tongue tickles)—we can't wait until he can meet the two new babies on the way!
Penguin nesting season has begun! 🐧🐣 Both Magellanic and rockhopper penguins at Shedd began seeking out the best stones and sturdy twigs to attract a mate or have settled into a nest with their habitual mate. Stay tuned for a regular birds eye view of this natural behavior!
When the guests are away, the penguins will play! 🐧 🌎 Annie and Edward—exploring Wild Reef here—have made a nest! But since rockhoppers dive into nesting slightly later than Magellanic penguins, they are still hopping around their habitat and swimming regularly. Stay tuned!🐣
Sea otters can generate the same bite force as a black bear! Their strong teeth and jaw allow them to crack and bite through the hard exoskeletons of sea urchins and shellfish. They also use tools such as rocks or bang their food against a surface to crack the shells open. (1/2)
Take a trip around the world's climates with Monte & Sparrow! 🐧 It's easy to think of penguins as snowy-weather birds, like emperor penguins. But Magellanic penguins like these two are found in merely chilly climates in South America. There are even penguins in the Galapagos!
#tbt to when Kayavak met Wellington during a #WheresWellington adventure! Kayavak's (KAH-yah-vok) name comes from the Inuit language and means “singing game that creates beautiful soft echoes.” A fitting name since she often mimics the sounds around her!
Snakes get curious too! 🐍 The penguins aren't the only animals who take field trips around the aquarium—this emerald tree boa seemed fassscinated by his fishy neighbors.
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We plan to! Without guests in the building, our animal caretakers are planning even more creative activities for the penguins and other animals.
How to start Monday on a good note: with sea otter Yaku snacking on some crabs! 🦦🦀
🎶Makin' my way downtown, waddling fast...🎶 #WheresWellington? Caught mid-stride on a stroll along the steps of Shedd! 🐧
Wellington’s next adventure is with YOU—get your Where’s Wellington t-shirt here: shedd.link/WellingtonShir
#WheresWellington on #WorldPenguinDay? The movies! 🐧🎬🎟️ The Phelps Auditorium is usually perfect for 4D movies, but today Wellington is hopping around & exploring. While watching a movie might not be a penguin's regular activity, their eyesight is quite good underwater & above.
Where's the fish? The penguins explored Bubble Net food court. 🐧 Here at Shedd, the Magellanic penguins eat a delicious diet of herring and capelin.
BIG news: Wellington is turning 33 this week! 🐧🎉 Wellington—along with two fellow rockhoppers—all have their 33rd "hatchiversaries" this month, making them more than double the life expectancy of their wild counterparts. (1/3)
While we are closed to the public until March 29, animal care staff are onsite 24/7 to continue looking after the animals, including celebrating birthdays! Today on #PiDay giant river turtle Yam turns 28 years old...and so does animal care specialist, Evan! 🐢🥧
Incoming! Poblano is soaring in! 🦜
Flying is important exercise and enrichment for macaws like Poblano and Serrano. When it’s cold out, we will often fly them in different areas of the aquarium. But during warmer months, they will fly from caretaker to caretaker outside.
The floof doesn't fluff itself! 🦦
Sea otters like Kiana and Ellie spend much of their days keeping their fur fresh and clean so it can effectively keep them warm. A sea otter reminder to wash your paws!
Icy crunches from rescued otter pup Watson. 😋🧊
Ice is a perfect enrichment item for sea otters. It helps them keep cool while they are out of the water. Sea otters seem to enjoy digging in piles of ice, too! 🦦
Entrance only, penguins! 🐧🐧➡️
We may be open again to the public, but the penguin adventures will continue, both under our roof and beyond!
Stay tuned to see where they wander, then get tickets to a safety-enhanced Shedd: shedd.link/2CkAy5l
Is there a rainbow above Shedd? Because sea lions Biff, Laguna and Cruz found a (very edible) pot of gold! 🌈 All of our #StPatricksDay enrichment is factored into the animals' diets to ensure they receive the nutrients they need (while also having some fun!) 💚
Remember when Luna was just a fuzzy little pup? 🦦 From getting rescued by Monterey Bay Aquarium to calling Shedd her new home, this little pup has come a long way. (But she hasn't lost her fluffiness!) #tbt
Melon boop! 🐳🥰
Annik the beluga calf has been learning targeting and playing targeting games while getting very comfortable with our caretakers. Here, he is targeting on Adam’s forehead with a "melon bump"—the fleshy part of a beluga's head and forehead that helps create sound.
Spotted behind the scenes: Sea otter Cooper sleeping while sucking on his paw. 🦦💤
On #WorldOtterDay, say hello to the five sea otters at Shedd! In order of appearance:
🦦Kiana
🦦Luna
🦦Yaku
🦦Watson
🦦Cooper
It doesn't get much more relaxed than Kiana grooming while wrapped up in enrichment kelp. #NationalRelaxationDay
Steve, meet Bowie! 🐧🐙 This Magellanic penguin met Shedd’s resident giant Pacific octopus. These animals couldn’t be more different, but they do share one thing: between Bowie’s eight arms & Steve’s made-for-swimming wings, they have some incredible adaptations.
Happy first birthday, Cooper & Watson! 🦦 🎉 🐟
We don’t know the exact birth date of these two rescued otter pups, but we estimate Cooper (foraging in the toy pool) was born around 4/27 and Watson (munching on a frozen treat) around 5/6. (Tweet 1/4)
Sound on! 🔊 Belugas like Naya are known as the "canaries of the sea" for the variety of unique vocalizations they make, from high-pitched squeaks to low rumbles. Naya is one of the expectant mothers at Shedd—stay tuned for updates, ultrasounds and more!
Sea otter Kiana as a pup! Caretaker Christy and otter Kiana have a special bond, and they go way back.
"My first job at Shedd was taking care of Kiana when she was brought in as an orphaned pup from Alaska. This year will mark 15 years working together!"
#CaretakerTuesdays 🦦
#WheresWellington? Waddling into your timeline! 🐧 Because your social feed can always use a little more Wellington.
Baby penguin update! 🐧 Can you believe the four Magellanic penguins that hatched at Shedd in May have already gotten so big?? They will start to lose those fluffy down feathers when they start to swim. They grow up so fast!
When divers dive into training! 🦜
Poblano is one of two green-winged macaws at Shedd (aka "the Pepper Sisters.") She and her sister Serrano participate in training sessions that can last a few minutes to an hour—and we like to keep it interesting!
This "hi!" brought to you by a (very) floofy Luna.
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Hop to it, Annie! You can see how rockhoppers get their name while watching Annie energetically hopping in the penguin habitat.
Relaxing with a rescue. 🦉🧘🦈
Rainier the barred owl was found as a nestling and raised in a home, where he imprinted on people—not owls. He is one of several bird species that found a home at Shedd after human interactions or injuries left them unable to survive on their own.
Start the week off right: with Kiana all wrapped up and cozy in her play kelp. 🦦💙 Sea otters wrapping themselves in kelp may be the cutest natural behavior there is. #MondayMotivation
The penguin chicks went on their first field trip! 🐧 Already near-adult-sized and independent from their parents, the chicks are ready for this unique enrichment and nearly ready to call the penguin habitat home.
🔊 Sound on: Waddling towards 2021 on new year's eve with the tippy-taps of penguin feet! 🐧
As we #Welcome2021, here's to a healthy, happy new year.
We want to give a huge thank you to the incredible people in Chicago and all over the world who are on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. From Shedd (and sea otter Yaku) stay safe, stay healthy and thank you for your tireless, courageous and life-saving work!
Wellington has been named “Chicagoan of the Year!” 🐧 He may be flightless, but it's been amazing to see his adventures take flight around the world. We are so happy this little penguin has helped create joy—well done, Wellington!
More on : shedd.link/3mBP220
Happy birthday, Tilly! 🥳🎂🐧
Magellanic penguin Tilly turned 10 this weekend! From VERY curiously exploring the mangroves in Wild Reef to appearing on Tilly had a big week leading up to her hatch date. (1/2)
Starting the weekend right with sea otter playtime! 🦦 From faux “kelp” to hard hats and ice baths, some enrichment items that otters like Ellie play with may be surprising! Enrichment like this helps keep their days varied and allows them to express natural foraging behaviors.
How it started vs how it ended. (Starring Yaku's chewing face. 🦦)
