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High Tech Habitats at the California Academy of Sciences

PetSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:00:48 -0700

Although geeksugar got a sneak peek at the California Academy of Sciences when she attended a video game release party earlier this month, she didn't really get to explore the facility as much as she would have liked to. Thankfully, Wired gave us a behind the scenes look at the high tech penguin habitat, and explained the benefits of running the facility on computers to replicate the light and temperature the penguins would get back in their natural environment.

I'm excited for the new Academy of Sciences to open this weekend, so I can check out what other animals are hiding behind those closed doors!

What Happened on PetSugar This Week (9/21-9/26)?

PetSugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:00:13 -0700

This week on PetSugar, we discovered ways to get your pet to the vet without all the stress, I talked about the effect accelerated ice melt has on the animals in the Arctic, and we got a sneak peek at the California Academy of Sciences that opens this weekend!

What else did we talk about this week? Take my quiz and see how well you were paying attention!

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Brrrr, Pierre Penguin Gets His Own Wetsuit!

PetSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:30:11 -0700

Penguins are accustomed to cool waters with their thick layer of blubber and water-resistant feathers keeping them warm. But for Pierre, a 25-year-old African Penguin at the California Academy of Sciences, his feathers weren't holding up to their end of the bargain. For a strange and unknown reason, his protective layer of slick feathers began falling off, causing him to avoid the water and shiver on the sidelines while his pool mates played. Sad. So, how would scientists help him get back in the game? By fitting him with a customized wetsuit of course!

Since wetsuits allow humans to keep warm when diving into cold sea water, why not whip one up to help out a penguin? After making an attempt at warming him with a heat lamp, Pam Schaller, a senior aquatic biologist at the academy, called in the experts from a San Leandro-based dive shop to help get Pierre fitted with his new get-up. The first-of-its-kind suit fastens with Velcro in the rear and accommodates his flippers with openings in the sides. Schaller said:

I would walk behind him and look at where there were any gaps, and cut and refit and cut and refit until it looked like it was extremely streamlined.

And good news: thanks to the custom wetsuit, and creative thinking from Pam, Pierre's feathers have started to grow back and he's back in the water!

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