Skip to main content

With Their Aquarium Empty, These Penguins Are Having a Coronavirus Adventure

A waddle of penguins

So many businesses are having to shut down (hopefully temporarily) in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, especially those with public-facing operations. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has had to close its doors to the public but what does that mean for the animals left inside?

Recommended Videos

It means they get to have an adventure!

With no patrons visiting, three penguins–Edward, Annie, and Wellington–were allowed out to explore the aquarium. Here’s Wellington visiting his Amazon fish friends:

Meanwhile, Annie and Edward, who are a bonded pair preparing for nesting season, explored the rotunda.

Honestly, this looks like a fantastic date.

The penguins also aren’t letting a lack of visitors stop them from enjoying St. Patrick’s Day. They’re gonna get dressed up and celebrate, no matter what.

It’s not just the penguins who are having a great solo time. Ellie here got a St. Patty’s treat.

And this turtle even got to have its birthday party!

Thank you to the Shedd Aquarium for putting this penguin joy into our lives. We needed it.

(image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Author
Vivian Kane
Vivian Kane (she/her) is the Senior News Editor at The Mary Sue, where she's been writing about politics and entertainment (and all the ways in which the two overlap) since the dark days of late 2016. Born in San Francisco and radicalized in Los Angeles, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gets to put her MFA to use covering the local theatre scene. She is the co-owner of The Pitch, Kansas City’s alt news and culture magazine, alongside her husband, Brock Wilbur, with whom she also shares many cats.

Filed Under:

Follow The Mary Sue: