What is March of the Penguin Madness (MOTPM)?

March of the Penguin Madness (MOTPM) is more than just a competition—it’s an education initiative designed to celebrate penguins, inspire learning, and encourage conservation. Presented as a thrilling bracket-style tournament, MOTPM invites the public to vote for their favorite penguins, with two exciting competitions running at the same time:

The Peng-Win Championship – Individual penguin contenders, nominated by zookeepers, aquarists, and museum staff from institutions housing penguins in human care, compete head-to-head for the title of Peng-Win Champion! These ambassadors represent their species and help raise awareness for their wild counterparts.

The Species Spirit Awards – Even if a penguin is knocked out of the main tournament, their species is still in the running! The ongoing popularity vote for penguin species lets you champion your favorite kind of penguin, even if your individual pick doesn’t take the crown.

Education Through Engagement – By voting, you’re not just picking a favorite—you’re learning about all 18 penguin species, their habitats, and the challenges they face in the wild. MOTPM fosters empathy and action to protect these incredible birds for future generations.

The Iceberg Hall of Heroes – The Peng-Win Champion earns international recognition and a permanent spot in the Iceberg Hall of Heroes, joining past winners in penguin history!

Keeper & Staff Involvement – Throughout the competition, we encourage participating zoos and aquariums to celebrate their contenders with enrichment activities and (if possible) plenty of fishy treats!

Voting happens right here on our website as well as on social media (Instagram & Facebook)—so cast your votes, rally behind your favorites, and help us crown the ultimate Peng-Win!

Penguins International is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Colorado, USA. Our mission is Protecting Penguins to Protect the Planet.  We achieve our mission through three key initiatives: community education, field conservation, and scientific research. These three activities go hand-in-hand to fully understand these amazing species of birds and protect them for all to cherish. We encourage you to explore our website to see more about the programs and projects we support!

You can vote by clicking on the “Cast Your Vote Today!” tab on our March of the Penguin Madness webpage. This is where the public can cast their ballots for their penguin favorites. Each penguin will be paired up and you can cast your vote with the simple click of a button. Voting on our website begins at 12:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time each Sunday and ends at 12:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time each Tuesday during the competition. This gives enough time for people around the globe to vote! 

We will also have voting available on Penguins International social media including Instagram stories (https://www.instagram.com/penguins_international/) and Facebook post reactions (https://www.facebook.com/PenguinsIntl). Social media voting will include two 24 hour rounds of Instagram story polls, as well as Facebook emoji reactions voting posts. We will total up all of the votes from social media every Wednesday evening of the competition Mountain Daylight Time.

Penguins International is a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Colorado, USA. All donations that are made to Penguins International support our mission Protecting Penguins to Protect the Planet which includes funding scientific research, field conservation programs, and community education initiatives. Examples of our work include supporting researchers like Dr. Michelle LaRue’s work on Emperor Penguins and supporting international penguin programs like The Punta San Juan Program and SANCCOB.

Penguins that have made it to the Peng-Win Championships (Final Two) are not participating in the new competition in order to give other penguins and institutions a chance at the title. As part of our Iceberg Hall of Heroes, the final two have their names carved in ice forever! Institutions with penguins that have made it to the Peng-Win Championship (Final Two) are still able to nominate other penguins at their institution

Penguins International is a conservation partner of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and the AAZK (American Association of Zoo Keepers). All eighteen species of penguin live below the equator and most people don’t have the funding or opportunities to travel to the far-off places penguins inhabit. Working with zoos and aquariums around the world gives people the chance to connect with penguin ambassadors and learn about their wild counterparts. Zoos and aquariums that have penguins in the competition meet industry standard husbandry practices for their animal collections, which include proper programs for medical care, welfare, behavior, and whole-life care. Facilities with penguins also provide conservation and/or education programming. Conservation programming includes involvement in research including Species Survival Plans (SSP), Taxon Advisory Groups (TAG), and Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs. Education programming includes both onsite and online community engagement opportunities that provide the public with information about penguin biology, conservation storytelling, and tangible action plans (ex. providing Seafood Watch Guides for sustainable seafood choices.) as well as supporting wild penguins with conservation dollars. We review each penguin nomination with care.

The Peng Win Champion will earn a permanent place in the Iceberg Hall of Heroes,  the most prestigious and frosty award designed for penguin royalty. They may adorn their regal plumage with a one-of-a-kind crown*. Culinary experts will craft a personalized menu featuring the finest selection of fish, squid, and krill – a fishy feast worthy of a global champion*. They even earn the esteemed title of Global Penguin Ambassador, spreading awareness of penguin conservation efforts worldwide inspiring generations of fledgling penguins to strive for greatness. 

We like to encourage participating institutions to create celebrations of their own to involve the local community, provide exciting enrichment to the penguins, or offer educational opportunities at their facility. Please check their websites on each penguin profile to see what events are taking place. Mark your calendar, the competition ends in time for World Penguin Day (April 25), a great time to generate some excitement for penguins! 

*Penguins International is not responsible for providing these prizes as they are purely fictional. However we strongly encourage zookeepers and aquarists at participating institutions to reward penguin competitors with tasty fish, fun enrichment activities, and lots of love!