The Aquarium of the Pacific has officially welcomed a new member to their June Keyes Penguin Habitat, a 4-year-old Magellanic penguin named Rosie. Her arrival promises to add an extra dose of charm as she begins to quickly acquaint herself with her new colony. According to the Aquarium of the Pacific via Instagram, Rosie is settling into her new environment, displaying her quiet, curious, and playful personality.
Visitors now have the opportunity to directly observe Rosie mingling and swimming with her fellow penguins. "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," Aviculturist Ashley told the Aquarium of the Pacific. In the meantime, Rosie is enjoying a restaurant-quality diet, with herring quickly becoming her favored choice.
A distinguished member of the flightless bird family, the Magellanic penguin is native to the temperate climates of South America and thrives far from the icy realms of Antarctica. These creatures are well-suited to their aquatic life, boasting dense feathers—three hundred times more than flying birds of the same size—and heavy bones which enable them to adeptly 'fly' underwater. Typified by their roughly two-foot stature and weighing between six and fifteen pounds, they are easily spotted by visitors, with Rosie recognizable by her distinctive hot-pink, orange, and yellow flipper band.
For those unable to visit the Aquarium in person, Rosie's adventures are not to be missed and can be witnessed remotely via the live Penguin Cam, a feature brought to you by explore.org, a division of the Annenberg Foundation. The cam gives a peek inside the daily life of Rosie and her companions at the Aquarium. According to an Instagram post by the Aquarium, the Penguin Cam is a window into this aquatic world, offering a glimpse of Rosie as she continues to explore her new home.
