Florida Aquarium penguins waddle into funding talks at state Capitol
Four penguins waddled their way around the Capitol on Wednesday morning.
Archi, Enzi, Nuri and Dassen are African penguins who came to spark discussions with legislators and make a statement.
The penguins fluffed their tuxedo feathers, having travelled from the Florida Aquarium in Tampa to highlight the need for critical funding to protect the aquarium and the thousands of sea creatures and others that call it home.
Last year's hurricane season brought high flood waters that reached the doors of the aquarium — forcing staff to move many animals, including the penguins, to higher ground.
Hurricanes Milton and Helene caused record-breaking storm surges that threatened the well-being of the aquatic life.
The Florida Aquarium is asking for state funds to be used to build flood barrier walls as well as to renovate the exterior entrances to protect animals and critical life support systems from wind and flood damages. The building is city-owned and plays a key role as an economic driver for the Tampa Bay region.
The Florida Aquarium is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It has been in operation since 1995 and welcomes more than 1 million visitors annually. It's a world-renowned leader in groundbreaking research and rescue efforts that help restore Florida's coral reefs and sea turtle populations.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Aquarium penguins make splashy case for hurricane help
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