It's World Penguin Day at the Little Rock Zoo!  

World Penguin Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the conservation of penguins, including Little Rock Zoo’s African penguins. These birds face various threats, such as habitat loss, overfishing, climate change, and pollution.

African penguins play an important role in their ecosystem, both as a food source for sharks and seals and also as predators to small fish, like anchovies and sardines. By hunting in the sea and returning to their colonies on land, penguins transfer important nutrients from marine to terrestrial ecosystems.

Join us for our special presentations to celebrate World Penguin Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024….and learn all about this amazing creatures and their wild counterparts. 

The celebration is a part of your admission, and the day's highlights include:

9:30 AM      Penguin feeding and keeper chat at the Laura P. Nichols Penguin exhibit

10:00-12:00: Awareness table with penguin activities and sensory play

3:30           Penguin feeding and keeper chat at the Laura P. Nichols Penguin exhibit

And don't miss this great opportunity to discover our latest exhibit - DRAGON KINGDOM!

Here’s how you can contribute to Penguin conservation, whether you’re participating in World Penguin Day at the Zoo or at home. Try incorporating any of these actions that work best for you and your family:

1. Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the threats facing African penguins and their habitats from sources like SANCCOB and SAFE.  Share this information with friends, family, and on social media to raise awareness.
2. Support Conservation Organizations: Contribute to organizations dedicated to penguin conservation, such as the Little Rock Zoo and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). By visiting the Zoo, you’re already doing this! A portion of your admission and parking fee is dedicated to conservation groups the Zoo partners with.
3. Adopt Sustainable Practices: Choose sustainable seafood options to reduce the impact of overfishing on penguin food sources. Look for certifications like Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) when purchasing seafood and check Seafood Watch for consumer guides.
4. Reduce Plastic Use: Plastic pollution is a significant threat to marine life, including penguins. Reduce your plastic use, recycle properly (according to your community’s standards), and participate in clean-up events, like the recycling drives hosted throughout the year at the Little Rock Zoo.

* Please confirm directly with the promoter or box office to ensure event details have not changed.