Shea Simmons
The way the coronavirus has upended daily life is unpleasant at best, but there are a few strange things going on out there that will bring a smile to your face: like penguins going on an adventure at the Shedd Aquarium and other cute ongoings at the facility.
According to The Washington Post, Shedd Aquarium shuttered its doors to prevent the spread of the virus. However, penguins were an exception. Rockhopper penguin Wellington as well as friends Edward and Annie explored exhibits from the South American rainforest to Asian freshwater streams, and the result was an abundance of adorable footage.
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
A spokesperson from the aquarium told the Post, “While Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium may be closed to the public, animal care staff and veterinarians are onsite 24/7. Without guests in the building, caretakers are getting creative in how they provide enrichment to animals—introducing new experiences, activities, foods and more to keep them active, encourage them to explore, problem-solve and express natural behaviors.”
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. pic.twitter.com/NcKkOtGdPw
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 21, 2020
Don’t worry if you missed the video when it first went viral. Shedd Aquarium has continued to upload adorable videos of its penguins, otters, and even a porcupine as it remains closed to the public. If you want some uplifting content on your timeline, you can follow the Shedd Aquarium Twitter for all the cute you can handle.
