In today’s #NotBadNews, we introduce you to baby penguins and take suggestions from Switzerland on how to best spend lockdown.
Welcome to #NotBadNews, our new (and hopefully short-lived) daily column where we round up the good, surprising, and weird things that have happened around the world during this coronavirus pandemic.
Niagara’s Newest Residents
And on the second month of coronavirus lockdown, a hatchling of baby penguins was born. For the first time in 14 years, the Aquarium of Niagara welcomed baby penguins. Ready to bring a little cute to your day? Introducing the aquarium’s newest residents.
Sometimes BIG news comes in little packages! This is our first penguin hatching in 14 years and we’re SO excited to introduce you the newest members of our Humboldt penguin colony. https://t.co/0rw1Vlb1WN pic.twitter.com/FUoql4RmnS
— Aquarium of Niagara (@AqNiagara) April 27, 2020
We’re jealous of the keepers and scientists, to say the least.
Switzerland’s Suggestions for Wasting Time
As we continue lockdown, we are each day greeted with challenge of how to spend 12+ hours inside. Many have turned to baking, crafts, and exercise videos, but after two-months, these hobbies can start to get dull–a hand can only take so much needle-pointing. Well, Switzerland saw our need for activity-inspiration and answered the call, gracing us with these less-than-typical suggestions for lockdown.
A Swiss pal has sent me the advice he’s received from the Swiss embassy, designed for citizens in lockdown abroad.
It is PRICELESS.
I can hear him, now, yodelling through his open window 🎶 pic.twitter.com/TQVgA3umAB
— Amber Regis (@AmberRegis) April 29, 2020
From yodeling to squats to mending a sock, Switzerland has our quarantine-restlessness covered.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Yes, You Can Visit the Zoo Again
In San Antonio, Texas, residents have been given the okay to visit the city’s zoo, but there is one stipulation: Visitors must remain in their vehicles. Opening their gates, this zoo is allowing car-tours, where you can drive through the zoo’s main exhibits and see the animals from your window.
The San Antonio Zoo, closed to the public since March 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic, has announced it is opening back up as a drive-thru zoo for a limited amount of time https://t.co/ZEnthsoib0
— CNN (@CNN) April 30, 2020
Are You an LA Resident Looking for Pet?
Has lockdown got you lonely? Looking for a friend you don’t have to social distance from? Los Angeles County has the answer for you, and it is extremely cute. LA animal shelters are waiving adoption fees for the time being, so–not to sound too much like an infomercial but—call now! (Not that we needed more convincing to bring a cute dog home.)
.@LACoAnimalCare is waiving adoption fees at all animal care centers across the County in an effort to place animals in homes during the #COVID19 crisis. Want to foster or adopt? Make an appointment with your local care center: https://t.co/JtyCq225sI pic.twitter.com/coT00UoyTL
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) April 29, 2020
If there were ever a time to bring a pet home, it’s now!
And an Idea for If You Do Adopt
Now that you’ve got a dog, you’re going to want to spoil them, and this Twitter user has an extremely good idea. This pet-parent has been working on creating a tiny-home for their dogs, complete with windows and framed photos of the family.
A ceiling light and a picture has been added to each house. Up next, we have to find a tiny couch for each. https://t.co/y6gO2MIsTd pic.twitter.com/vM8LJR8xjc
— iMDRW (@iMDRW) April 29, 2020
This addition perfectly fills unused space and gives the dogs a little haven of their own.
Check-in every day for an update on the wonderful and weird things happening in our current coronavirus world.