Fans who attended the Stadium Series game last weekend at Heinz Field were treated to waddling penguins during the pregame show, but organizers are getting backlash from animal welfare activists.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is criticizing the Pittsburgh Penguins’ use of live penguins before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“At Saturday's Pittsburgh Penguins game, live penguins from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium were paraded in front of the screaming crowd and (were) caught on camera scrambling in terror from a fireworks explosion,” PETA said in a news release.
"It's inherently stressful for wild animals like penguins to be hauled around, used as props and exposed to noisy crowds, with or without explosives going off," PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman said in the news release. "PETA is calling for the only Penguins on the ice at Heinz Field to be humans on skates."
PETA representatives sent a letter to the hockey franchise, calling on the team to never again use live animals at Heinz Field.
PETA's letter to the Pittsburgh Penguins read, in part:
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium responded, saying they worked with NHL officials to ensure the animals' safety, which is their main priority. In a statement, a spokesperson said:
In addition, zoo officials said, the penguins' keepers and a senior veterinarian were with the penguins at all times on the ice.
In response to PETA's allegation that the birds were "scrambling in terror," zoo officials said: "The loud pop from the pyrotechnical display temporarily startled the penguins and their first reaction, similar to a human’s when startled, they flapped their wings. It was less than 10 seconds, and the penguins were back to normal and exploring and playing on the ice."
PETA fired back after hearing the Pittsburgh Zoo's defense. PETA Foundation Captive Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Heather Rally issued the following response: