Halloween is lurking around the corner and while families across the world are busy preparing their children’s eerie disguises, the penguins at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium have hatched their own hair-raising plan – it’s the catastrophic molt, and it’s not just taking over the dining table!
This Halloween, guests can witness what might be some of the spookiest costumes around as the penguin colony embarks on their spooktacular, seasonal transformation. Over the course of a few weeks, the king penguins will molt, followed by the gentoos, who will undergo their feather swap for two to three weeks post-breeding season. It’s the penguin’s very own costume change, just in time for Halloween!
Despite the terrifying get up, the penguin team is keen to reassure guests that this costume change is all treat and no trick! Unlike most birds, penguins lose their waterproof ability during molting, which can be likened to trading in a raincoat for a fluffy sweater. Different penguin species have their unique schedules. Kings molt before they breed, while gentoos choose the reverse order, like deciding whether to pick out a Halloween costume before or after the big party – the eternal costume conundrum!
Michaela Smale, Penguin Keeper, SEA LIFE Melbourne, said, “The molting process involves three steps: Penguins plump up for the transformation, with a bit of early trick or treating, before shedding their old feathers and revealing the “spooky chic” look guests can see now. After the molt, they stabilise their weight and dive back into the water, ready to show off their new, sleeker costumes.”
While this feather frenzy occurs, the keepers will clear more than 50 kgs of icy feather debris from the penguin playground daily.
Over the next three to four weeks, guests can marvel at this captivating natural phenomenon, which promises to be a highlight of the spooky season.
Go BIG and double the family fun with the Melbourne Big Ticket, which gives families access to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. For more information visit www.visitsealife.com/melbourne
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