PENGUINS IN THE ARCTIC?
It is also no longer true to say that there have never been penguins in the Arctic. The newspaper Lofoposten reported on July 5, 1954, that a penguin had been seen by a farmer at Selsoyodden in Hamaroy. A writer at the Norweigian Whaling Gazette, while admitting that penguins and auks are easily confused, thinks that the farmer may have been right in his belief that it was a penguin that he saw. Nine king penguins were released by scientists in Lofoten and Finmark in 1935, and in 1938, some birds of smaller species were released. There have been several reports up until 1954 of penguins being seen in parts of northern Norway.
CERVAJA ANTARCTICA
The most popular beer in Brazil is a frosty brew known as Antarctica which has been wetting the whistle of South Americans for years. For all of you with satellite dishes, take note - their TV ads feature some pretty amusing dancing penguins. Also, the Falkland Islands have been home to Everards Penguin Ale, a fine tasting ale brewed in the British tradition. Both Antarctica and Penguin Ale sport a regal penguin mascot on the labels.
MR. KOOL RULES
 One can't discuss penguins in adverising without paying homage to Mr. Kool, the bird who started it all. Developed in 1931 by the ad agency, B.B.D.& O.for a new cigarette that had yet to be named, Mr. Kool was selected from among 350 applicants. In the course of the campaign, the genial penguin, eventually dubbed Willie, acquired a spouse Millie, and appeared in ads and on promotional products for nearly three decades. Recently there's been talk of bringing back the chain-smoking penguin couple to the Kool fold.
EDINBURGH PENGUIN PARADE
The Edinburgh Zoo maintains the oldest continuous penguin colony in the world. Established in 1914, the zoo was supplied with king, gentoo, and rockhopper penguins by the Salvensen Whaling Co. These birds seemed to thrive in the cool Scottish climate, and in 1919 the zoo was the sight of the birth of the first King chick outside of its natural habitat. As we all know, penguins are a popular attraction at zoos and aquariums the world over, but the Edinburgh penguin parade is a true sight to behold. Every day at 2pm from April to October (weather permitting) the kings and gentoos who feel like strolling that day, voluntarily congregate around the gate of their enclosure. Then, under the watchful eye of their handlers, they leave their home for a walk around the zoo grounds. Hundreds of spectators line the route as the penguins, seemingly oblivious to the tourists, take their daily constitutional. The decades-old penguin parade was instituted by the zoo handlers who, unfamiliar with their new guests, decided that the birds needed a break from their confinement in a small enclosure. The penguins seemed to enjoy their daily walk as they waddled in the streets around the zoo, and a tradition was born. These days, though, the parade is confined to zoo grounds. So, when in Edinburgh, be sure to take in this penguin tradition. It's well worth the trip. |
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