There’s a new waddler at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and she’s already stealing hearts. Rosie, a four-year-old Magellanic Penguin, has officially joined the penguin colony in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat. Described by her caretakers as curious, gentle and inquisitive, Rosie is the aquarium’s newest feathered resident, and one that you don't have to live in Southern California to enjoy. That's right: They may be in black tie, but you can watch them in sweatpants from your couch thanks to the aquarium's live penguin webcam.
Viewers will be able to recognize Rosie by the hot pink, orange and yellow band around her flipper on The Penguin Cam, brought to viewers courtesy of explore.org, the philanthropic media organization and division of the Annenberg Foundation.
Rosie comes from an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility, meaning that her move was part of a carefully coordinated effort to support the long-term health and genetic diversity of the species. Magellanic Penguins, native to the coasts of Argentina and Chile, are listed as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, so each bird’s placement is significant.
Already, Rosie has won hearts and expressed her preferences. She's eating restaurant-quality food (sushi-grade, one assumes) with a decided taste for herring.
“We are so excited to have Rosie join our Magellanic penguin colony. She seems like she will be a bright addition to the group with her curious and social nature. We are looking forward to getting to know her as she settles in and begins to explore our habitat,” said Ashley Loper, Aquarium of the Pacific aviculturist II, in a statement.
For visitors, the timing of Rosie’s arrival couldn’t be better. The holiday season at the aquarium is already an escape from the frenzy of shopping and chaos of travel, and the June Keyes Penguin Habitat offers exactly the kind of soothing, slow-paced spectacle that makes for a perfect seasonal reset. And what better way to truly unwind from the holiday madness than by watching the gentle splashing of everyone's favorite non-flying aquatic seabird from the comfort and warmth of one's own house?