"The penguins definitely have been in a better mood since the team started winning," zookeeper says, "and better moods means more mating."
NORTH SIDE - The fate of the endangered African penguin may rest on the shoulders of their on-skate namesakes, National Aviary officials said today, noting that improved mood may lead to mating activities.
The aviary is among the nation's leaders in trying to preserve the critically endangered species, but has not had any births in 57 years. Recently, however, there have been signs that the penguins are getting ready to try. Chief zookeeper Stan Sorro attributes the change to the Penguins' recent winning streak.
"Let's face it, we're all in better moods when the Steelers and Penguins are winning," he said. "But our penguins are even more invested in Mario [Lemieux's] Penguins. When they were stinkin' up the joint, my birds were in a foul mood - no pun intended. The males were just sittin' around, and the females were complaining about them."
But once the Penguins went on a ten-game winnng streak, everything changed. "Suddenly, everybody's cheering up and getting together at various watering holes to watch the games," Sorro continued. "The females are talking about naming their kids Marc-Andre. If the Pens could keep winning for the next three or four weeks, it'd help us out a lot."
Sorro believes the players could help in at least one additional way. "It would be really great if Sidney Crosby would visit their den," Sorro said. "They'd be so excited to see him I bet they'd be knocking flippers as soon as he left."
