Penguin Awareness Day

So, what’s black and white and cute all over? Penguins! Jan. 20 has gone to the birds! It’s Penguin Awareness Day, also known as National Penguin Awareness Day.

This annual “holiday” serves as an important reminder about the plight of the penguins. Many of these amazing, tuxedo-clad creatures are threatened by a variety of factors including climate change, loss of habitat, ship strikes, over-fishing and oil. Some populations have decreased by 80 percent. Several of the species are considered endangered and vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Weighing up to 60 pounds, the Emperor Penguin is the largest of the 17 or 18 penguin species and the Fairy Penguin is the smallest, weighing just over 2 pounds. Penguins are monogamous – they mate for life.

Today is also National Cheese Lover’s Day.