10-04-2025
Penguins waddle the halls of Florida capitol seeking needed state funding
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — There was an overwhelming amount of cuteness at the state capitol this week.
The Florida Aquarium, alongside their tuxedoed ambassadors gathered at the statehouse, asking for critical funding to build barrier walls after last year's hurricanes left their mark on the facility.
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'Moving our animals and their safety was most important to us,' said Camryn Ritter with the Florida Aquarium. 'Where our Penguins live on the Florida Aquarium property was definitely going to be subjected to storm surge, and with this last summer of hurricanes, it was definitely very imperative that we got them to safe higher ground.'
Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused record-breaking storm surges, bringing floodwaters right up to the Florida Aquarium's doors. This put many animals at risk, and now those very penguins are waddling through the halls in Tallahassee, calling on lawmakers to consider funding in this year's state budget to help protect them from future storms at the aquarium's downtown Tampa campus.
'The location of the aquarium is right on the port of Tampa Bay,' Ritter said. 'I think it does just inherently have a space where it's so close to rising storm waters that this type of legislature participation, with us moving forward with this big expansion, I think is really going to be impactful to the safety and security going forward.'
During Helene and Milton, animals and habitats at the aquarium had to relocate and be rescued from the storm floodwater that came rushing through.
The aquarium is now asking for funding to build flood barrier walls and renovate exterior entrances, all to help protect Florida's aquatic-life.
8 On Your Side sat down with aquarium staff and asked them how the conversations have been so far with lawmakers at the state capitol.
'I think everybody really understands the impacts and wants to protect our animals and the critical infrastructure that we have,' said Katrina Cox, The Florida Aquarium.
Bay area lawmakers, State Senator Danny Burgess and Representative Karen Gonzalez Pittman, teamed up this year to ask their colleagues to consider the 1-million-dollar appropriations request.
Lawmakers are now halfway through the legislative session and the state's budget is top of mind for many of them. And as those negotiations continue to advance, the aquarium and its fury friends are hoping they are a part of that conversation.
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