One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Want To Hang Out With A Penguin?
The penguin exhibit — with one-on-one encounters —has reopened at Aquarium of the Pacific with new COVID-19 rules. Madeline Walden/Courtesy Aquarium of the Pacific
You might have some money set aside for summer vacation that’s gone unused thanks to the pandemic. If you're an animal lover, here's one option: pay for one-on-one time with a penguin at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.
After shutting down to put coronavirus safety’s measures in place, the Penguin Encounters exhibit reopened this week, with a limit of four people from the same household per group.
Brett Long is the aquarium’s Curator of Animals and Birds. He says most of the Magellanic penguins were hatched at the aquarium so they're used to interacting with people.
"They're naturally curious animals. They get to pick what they want to do. And so they can sit next to people or walk around. They sometimes try to preen people. Or they just explore different areas and we just get to sit and enjoy it, and see what they do."
The outside exhibits of the aquarium are open for timed ticket holders. Visitors will have their temperature checked before entry and anyone over the age of two must wear a mask.
And you can always experience the penguins like we're all experiencing much of life these days: virtually via the aquarium's live stream of their habitat.
Above water:
Sponsored message
And below:
MORE THINGS TO DO:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
