It’s all black and white

Wearing a tuxedo has never been this much fun. Penguins are the new big thing, and these birds-in-suits love the attention. This summer, the documentary “March of the Penguins” and the animated film “Madagascar” have everyone waddling to the box office to catch the birds in action.

“It’s not a new thing for people to be fascinated with animals,” says Dallas marine biologist Paula Branshaw.

As director of husbandry at the Dallas World Aquarium, she raises the animals that live there, and has noticed an increase in the popularity of penguins because “people want to see the real animal that they see in a movie.”

But the cool things about penguins go beyond film.

At the Dallas World Aquarium, the 32 South African and Little Blue penguins together eat 73 pounds of fish every day. The swimming birds can be seen mating, feeding, bathing, napping and making other penguin friends. Some even recognize their favorite keepers’ voices.

Avian (or bird) collection manager Greg Stoppelmoor thinks the funny birds are adorable.

“They’re a unique bird. Their walk is hilarious,” he says.