Penguins in Taiwan: That’s impressive
On our recent Southern holiday adventure we stopped by the Nation Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. Though I had heard and read about this place, we were all totally overwhelmed with the amazing display of fishes and animals.
It should not be surprising that Taiwan would have a great aquarium, for everyone here absolutely loves seafood. It is only natural that a small live sample of all the yummy marine dishes should be available for viewing.
There are seemingly endless displays of really impressive tanks with huge glass fronts containing all manner of interesting sea creatures. The people who conceived and designed this aquarium have done a fantastic job and have made Taiwan proud.
A circling school of fish in a cylindrical glass display
The open water display with rays, tuna and a whale shark. Absolutely breathtaking.
A 10 metre open water profile of kelp beds
Or the underwater walkways that take you past corals, fish and through a ship-wreck no less.
Another really impressive exhibit was a coral reef profile in a curved glass display with a declining walkway.
Even the outdoor squid sculptures are impressive.
But we were most impressed by the penguin exhibit. The large “people” side, for ambience no doubt, is cooled to 17C. While behind the floor-to-roof glass on the “penguin” side it is chilled to a balmy Antarctic -2C. With near on 40 birds from 6 species the open display gives surperb viewing of these torpedo swimmers.
Though we did feel a little sorry for their lonely North Pole puffin cousins in the adjacent display. Though the puffins could not see their Southern avian upstarts, they must surely wonder why the crowds just walk on by.
The National Museum website has a live penguin cam. Though nothing will beat stopping by the museum yourself, you could switch your air-conditioner to “coldest” and watch them from here.
Great to see such a diverstiy of seafood…I can attest to the culinary qualities of puffins, having dined on them in Iceland…just looking at that lonely Puffin makes my mouth water
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Stephen reply on August 27th, 2008:
Thanks Puffin Man,
You know, I have never seen a puffin pie here in Taiwan. Nor penguin pate or even newspaper wrapped fish and chips.
All good reasons to visit icey Iceland, windy New Zealand and culinary England.
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On a recent trip to Taiwan, I was simply in culinary heaven with all the great food…I am still raving to friends in Australia about the Five Dime restaurant in Taipei…I also liked the sweet bowl of beans and ice shavings at street side stalls…I waiting for the next culinary blog
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Impressive indeed. Thanks for the pictures and info. Next time I head south I shall visit this place. I’ve been to Underwater World oceanarium on Sentosa Island, Singapore. although they have much bigger place and around 2500 varieties of fishes they didn’t have Penguins
And thanks for the comment on my blog.
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Taiwan’s National Aquarium in Kenting is one of the best aquariums I’ve been to in a long time. Awesome photos. It looks like you guys had a great time!
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