Penguins move to higher ground at The Florida Aquarium ahead of Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton nears Florida’s coast, The Florida Aquarium steps up to protect its animals, including relocating its beloved African penguins. On October 8, Aquarium crews moved nine penguins from their first-floor habitat to higher, safer ground. This crucial action aims to shield the animals from potential severe flooding, with predictions of up to 10 feet of storm surge in Downtown Tampa.

“Our animals’ safety is our top priority,” stated Roger Germann, President & CEO of The Florida Aquarium. “We take every precaution to ensure their well-being during extreme weather events like Hurricane Milton.”

Alongside the penguins, The Florida Aquarium activates its full hurricane preparedness plan. Today, they moved several other animals, including a smack of moon jellies, six snakes, three lizards, three turtles, two alligators, two toads, and a hermit crab.

Protecting animals and precious coral during Hurricane Milton

They are also relocating thousands of corals, including endangered pillar and elkhorn coral, to safer locations in Georgia, West Palm Beach, and Miami. The Florida Aquarium stands as the only facility worldwide that cares for endangered pillar coral and holds the largest population of reproductive-size elkhorn coral.

Additionally, The Florida Aquarium welcomed a rescued sea turtle from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which suffered significant impacts from Hurricane Helene. The turtle will now ride out the storm safely at The Florida Aquarium’s downtown campus.

Closure of The Florida Aquarium

Due to the potential impacts of Hurricane Milton on the Tampa Bay area:

• The Aquarium will be closed to the public through Friday, October 11. Guests who purchased tickets for those days can email MoreInfo@FLaquarium.org or call (813) 273-4000 to reschedule the visit.
• The plan at this point is to reopen on Saturday, October 12 at 9:30am, resuming normal business hours. Stay tuned to The Florida Aquarium’s social media channels for any additional updates: X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.