Say Goodbye To Mote's Penguins

The penguins at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium are prepping for their farewell tour at the aquarium, but first they have something cool planned for you. 

The penguins made paint footprints on a goodbye sign Thursday so show Sarasota how much they've enjoyed their temporary home.  This sign is now posted in Mote Aquarium and visitors can write their goodbye messages on it. 

Mote Aquarium visitors can see Penguin Island each day through April 15. On April 14, Mote will bid the birds farewell during its annual casual fundraiser, Party on the Pass, which is themed “Bye, Bye Birdie” in honor of Mote's winged guests. (Visitor and event info below.)

Mote brought penguins to Sarasota for the first time in November 2011. Since then, guests have been flocking to Mote Aquarium to see Sly, South, Rudy, Coaster, Oswald and Ninja. Penguin Island was originally slated to close at the end of February, but was extended through mid-April by popular demand.

“We’re thrilled that visitors from near and far have given our penguins such a warm welcome, and we hope many more people will visit them before they go,” said Dan Bebak, vice president of Mote Aquarium. “It’s clear that people care about these endangered birds.”

The black-footed penguins at Mote Aquarium are native to South Africa, where they are endangered in the wild. Black-footed penguins face some of the same threats as marine life in the Gulf of Mexico — lack of food due to overfishing and environmental changes, oil pollution, habitat destruction and sea-level rise.

By showcasing a far-away species that faces the same risks as many of the marine animals in our own Gulf of Mexico, Mote has highlighted the importance of working globally for marine conservation.

Mote has been a “vacation home” for five male and one female black-footed penguins whose permanent home is Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.

Info for Visitors

• Guests have just a few more weeks to visit Penguin Island, which will close on April 15. Until then, you can see penguins during normal visiting hours in Mote Aquarium’s courtyard. (There is no additional cost to see the penguins.) Mote Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. seven days per week, including all holidays, at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for seniors (over 65), $12 for kids (ages 4-12) and free for children age 3 and younger. Mote Members always get in free.
• Twice-daily feeding sessions narrated by our trained penguin caregivers typically take place around 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Learn more about the penguins at www.mote.org/penguinfaq andwww.mote.org/penguinid. 

Register Now: Bye, Bye Birdie Event on April 14

• What: Mote will bid a fond farewell to our six black-footed penguins during our annual Party on the Pass, which will be themed “Bye, Bye Birdie.” Guests can dine, dance and spend a little more quality time with the penguins before they depart. Dress for this special party is business casual or 50s retro.
• When: 6 p.m. on April 14
• Where: Mote Aquarium courtyard, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota
• Cost: $75 per person (includes beer, wine, food from the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and opportunities to participate in silent and live auctions). All event proceeds benefit Mote’s hospitals for sick and injured sea life.
• Reservations and sponsorships: Contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441, ext. 509, or stacyalexander@mote.org. Reservations are required before April 9.
• Info online: www.mote.org/byebyebirdie