Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Backs Wild Penguins

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Auckland's Kelly Tarlton's is backing penguins living in the wild.

The aquarium has given $3000 to three non-profit organisations that support penguin conservation, to mark Sunday's World Penguin Day.

During the past year, keepers have been creating art- with the help of the King and Gentoo penguins- and selling their wares in the aquarium shop.

The team collected black pebbles previously used by Gentoo penguins to make nests to create miniature works of art.

They used the birds' discarded tail feathers as paintbrushes.

Even the penguins contributed to the cause by waddling through a puddle of non-toxic paint and strategically placed cardboard.

Staff then framed their paintings for sale.

Funds raised through the aquarium's penguin art project will be given to Wildlife Hospital, Penguin Rescue and NZ Bird Rescue Charitable Trust, which work to protect New Zealand's penguin populations.

"Our team is passionate about penguins and we’ve had so much fun creating our art over the last year," said penguin keeper Kristen Buckley.

"It's awesome to be able to raise awareness about the problems New Zealand's wild penguins are facing and doing it in a fun way."

The King and Gentoo penguins at the aquarium were ambassadors for their species, she said, inspiring visitors to learn more about them and find out how they can protect them in the wild.