Wouldnt you just love to jump in the water with these adorable little creatures? Look how cute the penguins are!! But did you notice something different… have you ever seen an all black penguin?

Andrew Evans, who is traveling by bus from Washington D.C. to Antartica, came across the Rare Black Penguins on the island of South Georgia. The black penguins were confirmed with Dr. Allan Baker an Ornithologist and Professor of Environmental and Evolutionary Studies at the University of Toronto and head of the Department of Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum, believes that the penguin has lost control of its pigmentation patterns and assumes that it is some kind of mutation. To read more on this beautiful creature, go to National Geographics. Or to view the genetic defect bird, watch the National Geographic video.

Want to know more on the black penguins? Here is a site from Noah Strycker who spent a season in 2008 in Cape Crozier, Antarctica. His interview with the Washington Post tells of his journey. Below is a picture he took and pictures of his work.

To learn more about penguins, go to Penguin Science.

How adventurous are you? Do you live near the Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey? Grab your swimsuit because you can jump in the water with the sharks! YIPPEEEEE – For $165.00, you can go snorkeling with the sharks, barracuda and stingrays. “Dan Russo, aquarium biologist, said there are three different species of sharks in the exhibit. There are brown or sand bar sharks, sand tiger sharks and nurse sharks, he said. The brown sharks are the most inquisitive and the nurse sharks just sit and cuddle. I call them best friends.” This interview was conducted by Kelly Roncace, NJ.com.

The Adventure Aquarium also offers a fun adventure with the Seals for only $145.00 and you get to meet up close the grey and harbour seals and learn how to communicate with them and feed them treats.

One of my favorite creatures is the penguins and the Adventure Aquarium also offers an upclose program with the Black footed African Penguins. You will have the opportunity to learn how the aquarium cares and feeds them and you can even help with training.

This is a little outdated by a few months, but we all love feel-good stories. Be sure to watch the video below, it is G-Rated, so invite the kids. And our message to Oceanic? Great Job!!

SAN LEANDRO – Oceanic is proud to announce their latest success story: Pierre the Penguin’s Custom Wetsuit. Working closely with the Steinhart Aquarium’s Senior Aquatic Biologist, Pam Schaller, Oceanic has manufactured a wetsuit fitted for a South African penguin named Pierre.

Schaller contacted Oceanic with a unique request in early February asking if it would be possible to create a wetsuit for the Steinhart Aquarium’s 25 year old alpha-male Penguin, Pierre. He was having a difficult time re-growing his waterproof feathers which are vital to maintaining their core body temperature. With the life expectancy of these penguins at 20 years, something had to be done quickly.

Oceanic was excited at the opportunity to participate in this project, and donated the material and expertise required. With the help of the company’s very talented Senior Sample Maker, Lok Ho, and Marketing Specialist, Teo Tertel, prototypes of the wetsuit were designed and fitted onto Pierre in a few weeks time. Initial concepts of the wetsuit included an Oceanic logo across the chest while another concept included a tuxedo design. After discussing these concepts with Schaller, Oceanic felt it was in Pierre’s best interest not to have any “unnatural” designs placed on the wetsuit. Concerns over fellow penguins attacking and biting Pierre due to “unnatural” designs were taken into consideration as Oceanic moved forward with an all-black 3/2mm Neoprene wetsuit.

The final product was delivered to this lucky penguin for his 25th birthday. Factors such as expansion and contraction in the areas around the neck and waistline played an important role in the wetsuit’s design. Known for having a 2 lb. fluctuation in weight in a few weeks time, specially designed Velcro seals were used in the construction of the wetsuit so that Pierre could have sizing adjustments. While wearing the wetsuit, he would have a thin layer of warm water between the Neoprene and his body to stabilize his core temperature and trigger the re-growth of his waterproof feathers.

After six weeks of wearing the specially designed wetsuit, Pierre has gained weight and grown back his feathers. He no longer needs to wear the wetsuit with every swim and is free to go about living a normal Penguin life again. Oceanic wishes Pierre the best of luck.