Inside Birch Aquarium’s breeding program [Video]

SAN DIEGO — The Birch Aquarium, which has been reaching the gold standard in zoos and aquariums for 25 years, is home to a huge variety of sea creatures that seem to captivate people of all ages. It’s their diversity that has helped them add to populations of species that are in danger.

Let’s start with the little blue penguins, fan favorites among Birch-goers.

An announcer tells the crowd, “They weigh about 3 lbs. and digesting your food takes a lot of energy.”

The onlookers may notice the penguins are shivering a bit and that’s because when they eat cold fish, their bodies get chilly. You’ll often see them bask in the sun after a meal to warm up.

“They’re so tiny and cute. They’re about the size of a football or giant burrito,” said Leslee Matsushige a longtime associate …