The wait is finally over. Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins officially opens at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12. To mark the completion of this highly-anticipated exhibit, Birch Aquarium is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 8:30-9 a.m.
Inside the exhibit, guests will come face-to-face with Little Blue Penguins as they waddle, swim and glide about their new home. This new attraction brings the world’s smallest penguins to Southern California for the first time.
The 2,900-square-foot habitat — made possible by philanthropic support from the Beyster Family — features an 18,000-gallon penguin lagoon, multiple cozy burrows, a sandy beach, and native plants that mimic the coast of New Zealand and Australia. Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins puts the spotlight on these fascinating seabirds, bringing attention to the important role they play in our ecosystems both in the ocean and on land.
On July 12, at 8:30 a.m. there will be opening remarks by executive director Harry Helling, vice chancellor for marine sciences and director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography Margaret Leinen, as well as local officials, an 8:40 a.m. performance by San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, and at 8:45 a.m. a ribbon-cutting and unveiling with aquarium leadership and city officials.
