Penguins were thought to miss aquarium visitors and so were shown movies with people in them. They seemed to engage more with colorful, shiny films that have lots of movement.
Whether or not the penguins at the UK’s Sea Life actually “miss” having people around, the staff hoped to prevent boredom and keep penguins accustomed to visitors during lockdown by showing them movies. According to a senior curator, penguins prefer colorful, lively films and have no patience for romantic conversations.
Monica Humphries writes at Insider, “Like so many of us, the penguins at the Sea Life London Aquarium are getting into the holiday spirit by watching Christmas movies. As the aquarium’s Gentoo penguins await the arrival of [more] visitors, they’ve filled the past few weeks by watching holiday classics, like ‘Elf.’ …
” ‘It’s great to see how much our Gentoo Penguins are enjoying the Christmas movies we’ve put on for them,’ Leah Pettitt, an aquarist at the aquarium, said in a statement. …
“Experts at zoos and aquariums are constantly designing games and activities for animal enrichment, according to various zoo websites. They report that this enrichment stimulates, encourages, and challenges their minds and keeps animals’ natural instincts sharp.
“There’s a long debate on whether animals should be held captive in the first place. Aquariums, for instance, often provide educational opportunities for children and adults alike, but on the flip side, they further the idea that animals should be held captive for human entertainment. For penguins in enclosures, enrichment is one way to help them engage in beneficial, natural behaviors.
“In one study from 1995, researchers found that animal enrichment could improve health, like reproductive success or increased inclusive fitness. The same study notes that a common shortcoming of animal enrichment is when it has little function relevance, like listening to music or playing with toys.
“A 2006 study found that an enriching environment decreases animals’ stereotypic behavior, which are repetitive and functionless actions, like pacing or overgrooming.
“For penguins in enclosures, enrichment is one way to help them engage in beneficial, natural behaviors. By watching Will Ferrel dressed as an elf, the penguins engage in one of the five forms of animal enrichment.
“And it’s not just the penguins at the London Aquarium enjoying Will Ferrell’s acting. Gentoo penguins in Sea Life aquariums across the UK have watched films and TV shows to stay entertained.
“Earlier this year, penguins were spotted frolicking through the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. Meanwhile, penguins were roaming the streets in Cape Town, South Africa.”
I admit I haven’t seen Elf and am probably not qualified to judge, but I’m having trouble imagining a Will Ferrell movie keeping any mind “sharp.”
More at Insider, here. You can also can listen to Public Radio International’s Marco Werman interview the aquarium’s senior curator, James Robson, about the project, here.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
How amazing
Cute, huh?
Absolutely
I, too, wonder if animals should be kept in confinement. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend “Elf.” 😉
Good to know!
Delightful. I watch a couple of zoo shows on Animal Planet and am impressed by everything the keepers do to keep their charges stimulated and happy. I particularly like watching the one filmed at the Bronx Zoo, because I have fond memories of visiting there. In a perfect world we wouldn’t need zoos, but they are serving an important function keeping various species alive and healthy.
When I lived in Philadelphia, before I had my own kids, I liked to take my niece and nephew to the Philadelphia Zoo. I remember a hippo called Sub Marie.