Penguins like Edward and Annie will begin to build their nests next week. Join us digitally for nesting coverage! In the meantime, we will be sharing lots of different animal updates (and yes, Wellington will return!) 🐧👀 (2/3) pic.twitter.com/eCYKOwdOMz
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020
Cute animal videos may not necessarily be a cure-all for everything, but this particular set of Twitter posts has been helping to relieve some of the stress of the COVID-19 shutdowns.
Although the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been closed to the general public amidst nationwide quarantines, the facility’s animal caretakers took advantage of their closure by taking some of their resident rockhopper penguins for a little field trip.
In a series of videos that have already been viewed several million times since they were uploaded earlier this week, several of the aquarium’s penguins were given the opportunity to explore the public areas of the facility—and they seemed pretty amused by the adventure.
“While this may be a strange time for us, these days feel normal for animals at Shedd,” the aquarium wrote on Twitter.
“Without guests in the building, caretakers are getting creative in how they provide enrichment to animals, introducing new experiences, activities, foods and more to keep them active, encourage them to explore, problem-solve and express natural behaviors.
While this may be a strange time for us, these days feel normal for animals at Shedd. Our caregivers are constantly providing new experiences for the animals to explore and express their natural behaviors with. Let us know what penguin activities you would like to see! (3/3) pic.twitter.com/ftlow7iPHl
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 16, 2020
Since the Shedd staffers will be continuing to care for the penguins during the aquarium’s closure, their Twitter account has now become a welcomed source of cute animal pictures—and it is the perfect remedy for quarantine-induced social media stress.
“Our caregivers are constantly providing new experiences for the animals to explore and express their natural behaviors with [so] let us know what penguin activities you would like to see!”
It's a #StPatricksDay penguin party! 💚🐧 While we can't go out & party, the animals can! Our caretakers are committed to providing enriching activities (like edible shamrocks) for the animals with or without guests here to see it. Check in throughout the day to see more! pic.twitter.com/Xz1bXd2zk0
— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) March 17, 2020
Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends On Social Media…
Cute little fella’s!
Glad someone’s enjoying themselves.