The National Aquarium of New Zealand features over 1,500 animals from at least 50 different species, but it’s the aquarium’s penguins who have been getting all of the attention lately. However, these birds are receiving worldwide recognition and ridicule not on being super cute, but on account of their not so good behavior.
It all started in the summer of 2017 when aquarium staff introduced the “Naughty Penguin of the Month” and “Good Penguin of the Month” boards above penguins enclosure, as noted in a series of tweets by English comedian and writer JohnnyWaistcoat.
Over the past year, Johnny has become a mainstay on social media because of his updates of the penguins’ behavior, but no one is as a star as Timmy, the penguin who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
So. Y'all remember this picture, right? It's adorable, charing and all over the shop since it first appeared in June last year. Well, there's more. Thing is, the National Aquarium of New Zealand has done it, as advertised, EVERY MONTH since then and, folks, it's a ride. Strap in. pic.twitter.com/FgQ7NBpGUB
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Johnny, the aquarium, and Twitter as a whole have all been having fun at the expense of these penguins and their mischief, but how could you not when the penguins continue to misbehave?
Timmy no! You were doing so well! Fellas, don't swim went you're moulting: it's nasty. Meanwhile Pepper, a new face on the board, is taking steps to cross the human/penguin divide and repair some of the damage that Dora has done.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Penguin Antics 6/10 pic.twitter.com/3qzk6xX5Bc
At some point over the past year, Timmy changed his ways before finding himself on the “Good Penguin of the Month” board after he learned how to both eat in the water and become a stronger swimmer.
October calms things down a bit, with the worst offender being a lazy "egg-hogger" by the name of Mr Mac. Get in the water, mate, and give someone else a go on the egg! More importantly: look who's turning his life around! Good work, Timmy.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Penguin Antics: 5/10 pic.twitter.com/dELx2DKl7P
But we can’t escape our past and Timmy is no exception as he was punished for his past sins when he was pushed into the water by Tux, the new jerk on the block.
February is an emotional rollercoaster as the new naughty penguin is mean to reformed badboy Timmy! It took him an HOUR, Tux! Not cool. And Mr Mac is back as best penguin with a touching display of love. Your boyfriend ain't shit to Mr Mac.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Penguin Antics: 8/10 pic.twitter.com/dFuriRFhfl
I mean… look at this guy. As if pushing penguins into the water wasn’t bad enough, Tux also attempted to steal one of Mo’s girlfriends at some point throughout the year. I think he’s the new resident bad boy of the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
It's August, and penguin love is in the air… Mo's fall continues, as Tux takes a break from pushing Timmy off piers to make a move on one of Mo's ladies. Meanwhile Betty (good swimmer) steps in to help single mum Elmo with parenting. Just gals being pals.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) August 7, 2018
Penguin Antics: 8/10 pic.twitter.com/hs4ww7wkxQ
But maybe Mo deserves to have one of his girlfriend’s ripped from his grasp after he perfected the art of stealing fish from other penguins… sometimes directly out of their mouth.
Oh. Shit. Looks who's back, stealing April's top spot like he steals EVERYTHING ELSE. It's Mo, getting so devious and brazen even the keepers seem to respect his criminality. He should take a lesson from Flip: now there's a bird the knows how to penguin.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Penguin Antics 7/10 pic.twitter.com/z3uEhd9QQB
I guess he does deserve the rotten treatment on account of being “outright obnoxious” in the eyes of aquarium staff.
Wow. Just wow. For May, let us take a moment to appreciate the level Mo has reached. Outright. Obnoxious. Crimes beyond listing, but it's his attitude that gets to the keepers. And hey, there's a new penguin – Burny! He seems to be doing great.
— Jonny, y'know? (@jonnywaistcoat) July 19, 2018
Penguin Antics 9/10 pic.twitter.com/9NYidEP3Uh
All the shame and shade aside, I think the National Aquarium of New Zealand could take advantage of its newfound fame with the penguins and introduce a new reality show, or at least a webcam feed of the “Bad Boys Club of the National Aquarium of New Zealand.”