A black-tie affair: Penguins on the New England Aquarium (photographs)

The New England Aquarium in Boston has prioritized play and engagement in its so-called “retirement community” for its growing old African penguins.

“We have a variety of behaviors we’re looking to encourage, whether it’s exercise, exploration, manipulation, or foraging,” stated Mia Luzietti, the Aquarium’s senior penguin coach and enrichment coordinator. “Even play. It’s a natural behavior for these species, and so we use the enrichment to try to get creative and mix things up.”