Two little blue penguins have ventured up the Pacific Highway to find a new home on the Sunshine Coast.
The male penguins made the journey from Dolphin Marine Conservation Park in Coffs Harbour, to their new home at the SEA LIFE Aquarium in Mooloolaba.
The trip was carefully planned to ensure the penguins were safe and comfortable during the drive.
Upon arrival on the Sunshine Coast, the birds named Dennis and Ramon spent a few days in quarantine before joining the Little Blue Penguin colony.
“We are delighted to have donated these healthy little blue penguins to our friends at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast,” Tiga Cross, Life Sciences Manager at Dolphin Marine Conservation Park, said.
“We are actively involved in marine animal breeding programs for the survival of endangered species, research and education, and hope Dennis and Ramon will contribute to future breeding programs up at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast.”
Carla Haskell, Mammals & Penguins Manager at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, said Dennis and Ramon were settling well into their new home.
“We are grateful to Dolphin Marine Conservation Park for allowing us to expand our colony with the arrival of Dennis and Ramon,” she said.
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“It has been wonderful to see the pair making themselves at home with our resident birds – Ramon has been very curious and is exploring the whole display, while Dennis is slightly more reserved.
“We look forward to introducing the latest arrivals to our guests over the coming weeks.”
The little blue penguins are ambassadors for their species, helping SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and Dolphin Marine Conservation Park inspire guests and raise awareness about the plight of penguins in the wild, which are currently under threat from plastic pollution, introduced species, urban sprawl and overfishing.
All visitors must pre-book their tickets online in advance.
Visit www.visitsealife.com/sunshine-coast for updates, tickets, opening hours and health and safety information.
