After Closing Down, This Aquarium Lets Its Penguins Go On A ‘Field Trip’

Many facilities around the world are closing their doors to visitors in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. Shedd Aquarium, located in Chicago, is not an exception. The aquarium, which welcomes around 2 million guests each year, has closed for 2 weeks to protect the community. However, the aquarium is far from empty as recently, human visitors were replaced by… penguins. Probably for the first time ever, these aquatic birds were released to stretch their legs and explore the premises.

More info: twitter.com | Instagram | sheddaquarium.org

Recently, Shedd Aquarium, located in Chicago, had to close its door for visitors, but still found a way to entertain them through social media

After Closing Down, This Aquarium Lets Its Penguins Go On A 'Field Trip'

Many places that are closed for visitors are trying to engage with people through social media. That’s exactly what Shedd Aquarium is doing and their efforts are outstanding.

After Closing Down, This Aquarium Lets Its Penguins Go On A 'Field Trip'

People absolutely loved the adorable penguins touring around the Amazon and meeting fish and other animals. The videos gained over 100k likes on Twitter and the aquarium promised more updates.

After Closing Down, This Aquarium Lets Its Penguins Go On A 'Field Trip'

“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,” the aquarium wrote.

After Closing Down, This Aquarium Lets Its Penguins Go On A 'Field Trip'

Image credits: shedd_aquarium

Last Friday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that all public gatherings of 1,000 people or more had to be banned. For this reason, many venues and facilities had to close to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

In a series of adorable videos, the aquarium shows penguins roaming around the premises

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. pic.twitter.com/KgYWsp5VQD
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 15, 2020

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) 👇 pic.twitter.com/VdxN3oQAfe
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020

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) pic.twitter.com/eCYKOwdOMz
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020

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) pic.twitter.com/ftlow7iPHl
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020