This event is fully accessible.
World Penguin Day is on 25th April 2025.
Join us from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th as we are celebrating penguins all weekend long. With free activities, paid for penguin experiences, talks, keeper Q&A's, and quizzes, there's fun for all ages.
Why do we celebrate World Penguin Day?
Penguins have been around for millions of years, with the ancestor of the modern penguin first appearing 14 million years ago. Today, penguins are at risk of extinction due to climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
Whipsnade Zoo is home to two species of penguin, the African penguin and the rockhopper penguin. On the IUCN Red List, which is an inventory of the global conservation status of animal, plant, and fungi species, both of these penguins are listed at being at risk of extinction. The Northern rockhopper penguin is found on islands in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans, and the penguins of this species that live in the South Atlantic ocean are particularly vulnerable to oil pollution from oil spills. The African penguin is critically endangered, with lack of food availability from the effects of climate change and the competition of fisheries being the main threat. In fact, if current population trends continue, the African penguin could become extinct in the wild in the next 10 years.
Join us for penguin weekend and find out more about how ZSL is enacting change to help penguins around the world. You can also learn more about what you can do to help these amazing animals, and help us create a world in which wildlife thrives.
What activities* are taking place and when and where will they be?
Over our long penguin weekend we have a whole array of activities all to do with penguins including an egg waddling challenge and a free quiz with a chance to win prizes, as well as extra talks and penguin feed experiences. Our Penguin Gazebo and activities will be located on the main lawn behind the Birds of the World arena. These activities will be running from 11:00-3:00 on Friday 25th, and from 11:00-5:00 on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th. Talks, feeds, and ask an expert Keeper Q&A's will be located at penguins.
Penguin Quiz
Our free quiz will be running at 11:45 and 2:00 on all three days, so come along to our Penguin Gazebo and event area to test out your penguin knowledge. There are prizes to be won so don't miss out!
Talks, keeper Q&A's, and penguin experiences
At the penguin habitat, you can learn more about penguins by joining us for our talks and keeper Q&A's. You can even take part in our exclusive penguin experience and feed our penguins!
11:00 - penguin talk
11:30 - penguin feed experience
2:30 - penguin talk and keeper Q&A
3:00 - penguin feed experience
Tickets cost £15 which you can purchase at our penguin kiosk on the day.
- The penguin feed experiences will be following the 11:00 and 14:30 penguin talks
- Tickets for these experiences can only be purchased on the day at the penguin kiosk between the opening of the kiosk, and 15 minutes before each feed experience takes place
- Tickets cost £15 where you will be given a cup of at least 10 fish
- We are restricting purchases to 1 ticket per family, with a maximum of 5 people in a family
- This activity is not suitable for under 3's or those with allergens to seafood
- You will be given latex-free gloves to wear for the experience
- There are only 10 tickets available for each time slot, sold on a first come first served basis
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the experience to sign in
- Failure to adhere to staff instructions, could result in termination of your experience without a refund
How to take part
All our regular penguin day activities are included in the cost of your ticket or membership. There are penguin feed experiences which will incur an additional cost, tickets for these can be purchased at the penguin kiosk on the day. Additional talks and demonstrations are also happening throughout Penguin Weekend so download the Whipsnade Zoo app for the last talks times, interactive map, and other useful information.
*All events and activities are subject to change. Some activities are at an additional cost.
Become a Zoo member and you can also enjoy a whole year of unlimited Zoo visits including other animal celebration days!
Plan your day with the Whipsnade Zoo app to get the most from your visit. Explore with step-by-step navigation to your favourite animals, habitats, or eateries. Keep up to date with all the latest talk times so you won't miss a thing.
