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Tag: penguin

African Penguin Release at De Hoop Nature Reserve

This is so cool! Co Executive Penguin of Surrounded By Penguins shared this awesome article with me about the long term efforts of a few organizations working together to attempt to establish a new colony of African Penguins that will be protected and closer to their preferred food.

BirdLife South Africa, Cape Nature, along with SANCCOB and other organizations are attempting to establish a African Penguin colony in De Hoop Natural Reserve. This reserve is actually closer to the penguins preferred food. Drive thru anyone? Actually that’s part of what the problem is. They treat the area like a driver thru and don’t colonize. Although they have attempted to in the past…

https://www.birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/seabird-conservation/what-we-do/coastal-seabird-conservation/creating-penguin-colonies/

https://www.birdlife.org.za/what-we-do/seabird-conservation/what-we-do/coastal-seabird-conservation/creating-penguin-colonies/

In 2003 African Penguins did attempt to establish a colony in the area, but predation forced the penguins to abandon the attempt. This time around, they will be protected from predators! With a fence and other tools to help keep predation down. The organization’s are implementing very smart tactics to promote the likelihood that penguins will once again attempt to roost in the area too. In this video they are releasing juvenile penguins in hopes that they will return to roost in the area when they are of breeding age.

The organization’s even made decoy penguins and set up speakers to play penguins calls. All to entice penguins to attempt colonizing in the Reserve. The decoys look so real!

This is an ongoing long project but we at Surrounded By Penguins are excited and hopeful. I have a feeling that it’ll work. These carefully coordinated efforts will be worth it, I’m sure. Thank you to everyone involved with this project. I admire your hard work and patience. Keep up the good work. Hurry back penguins! Squawk!

TooToo our stuffy plushy Gentoo takes flight!

A few of the Surrounded By Penguins rode the sea jelly swing ride at SeaWorld San Diego yesterday. Some pengie fwens just watched because they didn’t want to ride or were too nervous to ride. Some were even too anxious to watch. All okay feelings.

TooToo and Syd giving each other quick hugs before the ride starts.
TooToo giving some attention and reassurance to the fwens in the clear backpack. Can you see Afie our African Penguin Ambassador in the clear backpack?
Sippy and Mr Bigalow before the ride.
TooToo sees Pickalowlow’s yellow foot and beak hanging out of the wheelchair basket. Pickalowlow must be covering and comforting some stuffy plushy fwens in the basket.

In the video, TooToo really takes to flight 1 minute into it. I didn’t know what to do but hang on and keep filming!

You can’t see the other stuffy plushy fwens in the video but off screen Syd was squawking in fear and excitement the whole time, excited to be flying but scared because we were so high up. During the ride, Mr Bigalow was bouncing around on hys chain. And Sippy was holding on for dear life in their holster. It was so cute to see all of them so excited and happy. TooToo, Syd, Sippy, Mr Bigalow and I were so proud to had braved the ride. At the end we could say we all enjoyed the experience. All the anxious feelings leading up to the moment the ride started were worth experiencing. The ride ended with us wanting to ride again. Good thing we recorded TooToo flying so we can relive the experience when we watch it because I just realized…. Our Penguin Ambassador Fwens were definitely not tall enough to ride the ride! Whooooa! Maybe it was a good thing that we didn’t try to ride it again. 😅🐧🎢

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#penguins #penguin #penguinlove #penguinlover #penguinfan #cutepenguin #cutepenguins #pengui #pengie #pengies #stuffies #plushie #plushy #stuffedanimals #flyingpenguin #plushiepenguin #tootootheplushypenguin
#rides #swings
#seaworldsandiego
#surroundedbypenguins

SeaWorld San Diego Emperor Penguin News featuring 2022 SeaWorld Pass Members Collector Cup Emperor Penguin Edition

I didn’t get to make it to the Emperor Rollercoaster grand opening last Saturday. Work needed us to help out a coworker and apparently we were the only ones that could cover the shift. Although it was really for a good reason, the grand opening to the Emperor Penguin ride looked so cool! Even the Mayor Todd Gloria was there! That was surprising to see!

Grand Opening

Sooo we haven’t ridden the ride yet. Buuuut we did score a Emperor Penguin collector cup last time we were at SeaWorld! So not only did we adopt a baby Emperor penguin, but also this cup!

Check it out. It looks pretty good with Sid and EP’s Surrounded By Penguins hat.

How do you think we should spell the Emperor Penguin Chicks name?… Sid or Syd?… Syd or Sid?


Music: Turn Up The Watts
Musician: Jason Shaw
URL: https://audionautix.com

Here’s the Point Of View video of the Emperor Penguin ride! Although none of our penguins are tall enough to ride it, aside from EP. We still can’t wait!


#penguins #penguin #penguinsinstagram #penguinsofinstagram #penguinlove #penguinlover #penguinchicks #cutepenguin #cutepenguins #pengui #pengie #pengies #emperorpenguins #penguinadventures  #seaworldmembercollectorcup #seaworldmembercollectorglass #penguinmerch #penguingifts #collectorcups #collections #seaworld #seaworldpassmembers #emperorpenguinchick #penguinplushies #penguinstuffies #penguinhat #surroundedbypenguins

International Women’s Day

I believe it’s purposefully hard to tell the gender of penguins. They’ve evolved so much that being able to distinguish between their sex is nearly impossible, even under careful observation. Penguins have been around much much longer than humans and seem to be all knowing so gender inequality isn’t a thing for them at all. But until we evolve to be as smart and all the things that penguins are, we acknowledge that within the human species many women are not treated equally. Today, I was motivated to make products in honor of Women’s Day and Surrounded By Penguins Anniversary. Although I, Executive Penguin, much like penguins, look more androgynous than a definite male or female, I know that not long ago I would not be allowed to have a business because my chromosomes and some of my body parts say I’m female. I’m not wanting to take advantage or make light of today being Women’s Day, but I do want to acknowledge the person in me that is an energetic woman that needed to make products and show ownership of a business, because we can… and sadly others cannot.


An essential scoop shirt with the danger style sign reminder that it’s okay to be a little blue. You don’t have to smile if you don’t want to.

Tank tops and a mouse pad with gamer stuff around it because our customer of the year @kattgoddes is an awesome gamer and inspiration. She’s an Engineer, bought an Alfa Romeo, and appreciated me bringing to light the word “folx” as a word to include all despite their pronouns or lack of pronoun identification.

Boxer briefs, because that’s what I’m comfortable wearing.

And a backpack because sometimes a purse, murse, side bag, clutch, butch bag, e.t.c. doesn’t have enough space to carry everything movers and shakers need to change the world.

New Hatchlings!

The Surrounded By Penguins family just got a little bigger! We got 2 new hatchlings that joined the family the day of and the day after Penguin Awareness Day 2022! The first video features TooToo the Gentoo! The second features Afie!

Welcome to the clutch TooToo and Afie! We look forward to seeing all your adventures!

Google and other shop developments

As some of you know, I, the Executive Penguin am not very knowable when it comes to the online business stuff. I waddle around at a penguins pace, slipping and falling often while navigating what it takes to run a business online. But I’m learning and getting good at so much. The nice thing is that usually the processes and fixes can be so arduous that I only need to go over it once to get it. A lot while dealing with products is redundant too which is very helpful.

After taking some free business classes offered online San Diego SBDC, I learned how to get Google to show Surrounded By Penguins as a business in Google searches for “Surrounded By Penguins”. This is huge for us! I already put up 106 pictures and although I have yet to figure out how to fix the errors associated with attempting to put products on Google, it is soooo awesome that people can see us as a business, see pictures of products, and Google allows in one click to get to this website.

For you business owners out there, I think registering for your local or international SBDC (Small Business Development Center) through The International Rescue Committee is a must. They offer sooo much help for free! I have only done some of the Zoom class, but they have so much to offer. Here’s a little information about them.

https://www-rescue-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.rescue.org/announcement/irc-small-business-development-center-sbdc?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16420639577457&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rescue.org%2Fannouncement%2Firc-small-business-development-center-sbdc

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helps local small businesses prosper by delivering no-cost business assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs through in-language technical assistance, training, and access to microloans to support entrepreneurs to start or expand their business.

The San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network is an accredited member of the
Association of Small Business Development Centers
Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business.

In addition, I’ve also learned how to put up individual products that lead to external sites connected to fulfillment businesses such as Redbubble and TeeSpring. That means, we get to feature more products!

Surrounded By Penguins now offers hundreds of different products but I do have some favorites I’m excited to see for myself.

We now offer dresses with the Galapagos Penguin graphic! Now I usually stray away from white, but I am really tempted to make an outfit for myself from the Galapagos Penguin White A Line Dress and the Galapagos Pengin shoes…. What do you all think? Too much matchy matchy? Too many penguins in one outfit? Should I get the Galapagos Penguin on the front or back of the dress?! Ahhh too many choices!

Shoes, Backpacks, Youth Shirts and more!

Can you believe it?! We designed shoes! Never thought that would happen!

New Product Release!
The Executive Penguin has been hard at work making sooo many products with the Galapagos Penguin graphic! Everything from backpacks to shoes to bath towels and kids shirts! What do you think?!

I’m most impressed by the shoes. Shooooes! There so cute even though they’re all white! I think I might need me a pair or two.

Special Requests, Diversity, and Inclusivity

Here at Surrounded By Penguins we encourage people to take the opportunity to be part of the product creation process. We want to make products that you will love and cherish. So when aq31.12 on Instagram took the time to message us to suggest that we place the new Galapagos penguin design on a shirt that was a different style, how could we not oblige?

Now we wanted to place the design exactly where the original is placed. As of last night, this cannot be done unless we place it on a shirt that allows for wrap around printing. This drove up the cost of the shirt by over $20usd and put the shirt in the new materials category instead of using recycled materials. So we reached out the aq13.12 again and asked for input about the shirt you see featured here. To quote aq13.12 that hearted the image… “I think the middle looks great”. Approved! Awesome.

Thanks so much aq13.12 for the suggestion!

Have a suggestion? Please feel free to let us know what it is! No pressure! All suggestions that are not spam will be considered.

Trash Tuesdays Open to the Public!

Every Tuesday Surrounded By Penguins does a morning beach walk to pick up liter on a beach within the San Diego, California County. Near or far, wherever you are. We believe a little help does a penguin good.

So far these event have been private due to safety concerns. Recently, the Executive Penguin posted about picking up broken glass and tar on a beach in the area. Some of that post is as follows.

I’ve been hesitant to open #trashytuesdays to the public but I’m realizing no matter what it’ll never be as safe as we wish we could make it. There’s still some tar on the beaches, broken glass and other hazards, but all the more reason to continue… Starting next week, I’m gonna open up Surrounded By Penguins Trashy Tuesdays Beach Clean Up in hopes that we remember, even amongst all the trash, we’re still surrounded by love and beauty.
Now remember that proceeds from sales at www.surroundedbypenguins.com do go towards funding the beach clean ups so if you wanna help but can’t make it there are other ways you can assist.
1) Pick up a piece or 2 of liter every Trashy Tuesday
2) Contribute to Surrounded By Penguins by purchasing SBP merch
3) How else can you help the penguins near and far?
Comment below.
Be sure to post about your own liter picking for Trashy Tuesdays!

This Tuesday, Sippy with hys new vest will be helping with the beach clean up. We can’t wait to see what hys flippers find!

Please refer to the calendar below for specifics to Surrounded By Penguins Trashy Tuesday and other events.

Seems like Sippy is already finding some trash to take out!

Waddling towards the unfamiliar…

Trying a new design technique for this particular Galapagos penguin shot. And a new shirt made from recycled material!

What do you all think?