March of the Meatloaf
Help Birch Aquarium win Penguins International’s 2025 March of the Penguin Madness Tournament
Photos: Jordann Tomasek, Birch Aquarium
Move over, basketball — this March, the real madness belongs to penguins! Another competition is waddling into the spotlight, and this one features a pint-sized contender from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The Comeback Chick
Meatloaf the Little Blue Penguin will once again represent Birch Aquarium in Penguins International’s 2025 March of the Penguin Madness Tournament. This annual competition helps raise awareness of all 18 penguin species in a fun and engaging way.
Meatloaf is a beloved favorite among both staff and guests at Birch Aquarium! Last year, our community came together to cheer her on during the tournament, and it was a blast. While she reached the final round in her division, she was ultimately defeated by Kokosanka from Zoo Gdańsk, the tournament's eventual champion. Birch Aquarium is excited about her little “comeback chick” moment and is ready to live, laugh, loaf again!
Meet Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a little penguin with a big personality! She’s curious, outgoing and always the first to dive into a new adventure — whether it’s exploring new enrichment, swimming around her habitat or simply snacking on some fish. Little Blue Penguins are not only the smallest penguins in the world, but they also have a stunning blue hue that sets them apart. These pint-sized penguins stand at only about a foot tall — or, in San Diego terms, about the size of a California Burrito! Let Meatloaf’s adventurous spirit inspire you to protect these amazing penguins and their homes.
How You Can Vote for the Loaf
Each round, the public can cast their vote for Meatloaf three different ways:
- Website: Vote on Penguins Internationalʼs website
- Facebook: React with emojis on Penguins International's Facebook post for Meatloaf
- Instagram: Vote on Penguins International's Instagram polls (two 24-hour polls will be posted.)
Second-Round Voting Schedule* (Pacific Standard Time)
Meatloaf is up against tough competition in the second round, and we need all the help we can get to the final round in her division!
- Website Voting: Opens Saturday, March 22 at 11 p.m. and closes Monday, March 24 at 11 p.m.
- Social Media Voting (Facebook and Instagram Pools): Open from Sunday, March 23 at 7 a.m. to Tuesday, March 25 at 7 a.m.
*Please note that times have been adjusted from Mountain Time to Pacific Standard Time for Birch Aquarium.
After five rounds of voting over two months, the winner will be announced just in time for World Penguin Day on April 25. The full schedule and bracket breakdown can be found on the Penguins International website.
Related News
Apr 9, 2025
Mar 20, 2025
Mar 18, 2025