Help This Special Illinois Penguin Become ‘The World’s Favorite Penguin’!

It may be April now, but March Madness is still underway for college basketball...and for one special penguin at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.

Where Are All the Penguins?

In case you didn't know, I'm a HUGE animal lover. If it walks, breathes, has feathers or fur, there's a good chance I'm going to love it...unless it slithers or has eight legs. (I draw the line at snakes and spiders!)

My kids are HUGE animal lovers too, so at least once a year my husband and I take them to a zoo. Last summer when we went to Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, my girls were upset to see that penguins no longer live there.

Why are penguins disappearing from local zoos? There are two major reasons;

1. Bird flu
2. Species endangerment

According to Penguins International;

There are currently 18 recognized species of penguins in the world and, sadly, 9 of these species are listed by IUCN Redlist as Threatened, meaning they are either Vulnerable or Endangered of becoming extinct.

Simply put, with bird flu being such a problem right now, penguins are being removed from public viewing at many zoos to keep them safe and healthy.

'March of the Penguin Madness'

Penguins International is a non-profit organization that helps protect and preserve penguin populations all over the world, and to raise awareness for their mission they created a fun annual competition called "March of the Penguin Madness"

One hundred penguins from zoos and aquariums all across the world were chosen to compete in this year's event that started on March 16, and only one penguin from Illinois has made it to the final 12, aka, the "Dazzling Dozens" round.

Say hello to Pepe, a 13-year-old Humboldt Penguin from Brookfield Zoo in Chicago...

Pepe is not only adorable, he's actually a local celebrity working hard for his Humboldt brothers and sisters across the world.

Pepe's bio says;

I’m not just any penguin, or any Brookfield Zoo Chicago animal for that matter. I was the very first Animal Ambassador at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, and I’ve spent my life helping people connect with penguins like me.

 

Through guest programs, social media, and even my own artwork, I’ve raised awareness and thousands of dollars for penguin conservation efforts in Punta San Juan.

On March 13, Pepe celebrated his golden "hatch day" at Brookfield Zoo, and now the only thing he wants for his birthday is to be named the "World's Favorite Penguin".

Will you make his wish come true by voting? Vote for Pepe now, here!