New Zealand aquarium writes a hilarious monthly ‘naughty list’ for its penguins

The National Aquarium of New Zealand has found a novel way to keep its penguins behaving correctly: with a monthly naughty and nice list.

The list, which the aquarium has been running since June 2017, is popular with visitors for naming and shaming penguins with bad behaviour.

The first saw Timmy and Betty named, two of the aquarium’s resident little penguins, the world’s smallest species of penguin.

“Timmy and Betty were the winners in June 2017 and when posted on Facebook for the first time the whole world took notice, with Timmy as naughty penguin of the month capturing special interest.

“Even one year on from Timmy’s fame, the aquarium regularly request update reports on Timmy and if his behaviour has improved!”

“Betty was the good penguin of the month in June 2017. Generally a well behaved penguin (goody too-shoes), she loves swimming all day which is good for penguins and always waits patiently for her food – not like the others.”

Some penguins are brought in because they were abandoned as chicks, are partially sighted, or became sick or injured in the wild.

The National Aquarium acts as a rehabilitation centre for many of the little penguins, sending them back into the wild when they are recovered, or becoming a permanent home for others.

“These special penguins really have captured the hearts of Facebook followers, and enabled the aquarium to share its conservation messages.”