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Wild Animals/Questions Answered by Expert Dyan deNapoli
| Subject | Date Asked |
| career choice | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I am in 8th grade and would like to know how to become a "penguin expert." I love penguins and have ... A: You are wise to start thinking about how to achieve this goal now. There are a few approaches you ... | |
| I have two questions | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: I have two questions. I heared that penguins make all these different noises, they make the same ... A: Penguins and dolphins actually make different kinds of noises - every animal species has its own ... | |
| Mallard ducks | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: We have three ducklings and the mother died today. We have the drake. Can he take care of the ... A: My apologies for the delay in responding to your question - I was travelling due to the holiday and ... | |
| Can you help please ASAP! | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: What factors have threatned the penguins habitat? A: Did you write last week asking this question? If so, I hope you received my answer. I've copied my ... | |
| Help! Penguin question | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: What are some factors that have threatned the penguins habitat? A: The habitat of penguins (both aquatic and terrestrial) has been threatened by a number of human ... | |
| Do Penguins? | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: When penguins are mating with each other, do they get orgasms? I also heard that penguins mate all ... A: I don't know if any researchers have studied this - I've seen no reference to it in scientific ... | |
| Penguin Question | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: Dyan, if penguins know the english term for them, 'Penguin', if they know what that word means and ... A: While penguins being cared for by humans in a zoo or aquarium have the ability to recognize and ... | |
| about wild animals study and its scope | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: How to get admission to study about wild animals?And can I get any option to get job in this field?I ... A: My particular area of expertise is penguins, which is usually what my answers are limited to. But ... | |
| Emperor Penguins | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: .. I would like to know if they only live in ant.?why do they breed only in winter? How big can ... A: (AllExperts is generally a place where you can ask an expert one or two questions that you can't ... | |
| oiled penguins | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: how does it hurt penguins to be covered in oil? i mean they can't fly so how can it hurt them? A: My apologies for the delay in getting back to you - I was on the road the last few days and forgot ... | |
| penguins | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Our students were wondering if there is a specific name for a person who studies penguins. Thanks ... A: To the best of my knowledge, there is not a specific term for someone who studies penguins. As ... | |
| Anamals | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: What is the definition a niche? A: While this question is outside of the penguin realm, which is my specific area of expertise, here is ... | |
| Penguin | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: If I want to treat and also do research on penguin,what kind of course and job I should choose to ... A: What you study in school will depend upon exactly what you want to do or study as a scientists, but ... | |
| Penguin Species Classification | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: I read with interest that the Rockhoppers have been split into 2 instead of 3 species even thought ... A: The subject is a bit confusing, so I will try my best to clarify it for you. Historically, there ... | |
| Emperor Penguin Colonies | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: This may seem a strange question, but I am writing a story about penguins, and trying to keep it ... A: Just last year, while in Antarcica, I saw a situation very similar to what you are describing - ... | |
| Re: chicks killed | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: Dyan, thanks for your answer. Ok, I'll try to answer to all your questions: 1)the only nest the ... A: The fact that you've had successful breeding in the past, yet now have this new problem is a bit ... | |
| Chicks killed | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: Dyan, nice to meet you. I have a question about the behaviour of captive Humboldt Penguins ... A: I'm so sorry to hear about this. I have not heard of this type of behavior before. A few questions ... | |
| A Margay as a pet | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: Is it illegal in Colorado to own a Margay? If it is not Illegal would a Margay be alight with a ... A: Although your question is outside my area of expertise (I am specifically a penguin expert), I did ... | |
| Penguin Questions | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I am writing a report on penguins for my English class and I have a few questions I would like to ... A: This is generally more questions than I am able to answer here, but I will answer each one for you ... | |
| Animal Rights | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: Good day! This Abdul Taiting. A Mass Communication student from Far Eastern University, Philippines. ... A: While I believe this is an important subject, I am specifically a penguin expert, and answer ... | |
| penguins in captivity | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: When did penguins first show up in zoos? Were they in zoos in 1912? A: Well, you have managed to stump me. I've never seen, read or heard any reference to the very first ... | |
| Galapagos Penguin | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: How many Galapagos Penguins are kept in zoos today? A: There are not any Galapagos penguins found in any zoos or aquariums and, to the best of my ... | |
| Penguin Sexuality | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I have heard of penguins being homosexual in captivity. Is this true? If yes, does this happen in ... A: It's true that penguins sometimes form pair bonds with members of the same sex in zoos and ... | |
| Domesticating wild animals | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Have you ever owned a wild animal as a pet? If so, what were the difficulties of keeping it alive ... A: No, I have never owned a wild animal as a pet. Not only is it illegal to keep a wild animal as a ... | |
| will flash from camera bother their eyes?? | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: I am going to Alaska in a couple of weeks, and I was just wondering if the flash from my camera will ... A: I'm not sure what animals in particular you hope to observe in Alaska (there are no penguins there, ... | |
| My dog may have injured a mother duck | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: .I am frantic. I have a mother duck who is nesting in an old abandoned dog house on my property. I ... A: I was away yesterday, and just turned on my computer and got your question. I can sense your ... | |
| artic animals | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: What kinds of animals live in Antartica? A: Penguins probably have the largest population of any animal found in Antarctica. There are millions ... | |
| Global warming effects | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I came here after seeing your name mentioned on http://penguinology.blogspot.com/. I have read that ... A: My apologies for not responding sooner - I am using a new spam filter, and I just now saw your ... | |
| Penguin Emotional Health | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: A very small exhibit has just opened in my hometown. The 9-12 penguins are on loan for 2 years from ... A: As I do not know what exhibit you are talking about, it is impossible for me to comment about that ... | |
| penguins | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I was looking for a gap year program working with penguins. My daughter is "obsessed" with penguins ... A: I'm so pleased to hear that your daughter has secured a volunteer position with SANCCOB. I'm sure ... | |
| penguins | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: I was looking for a gap year program working with penguins. My daughter is "obsessed" with penguins ... A: It will be a challenge to find an established volunteer program working with penguins other than the ... | |
| penguin displays | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: Im still working on my gameshow.I have to have 20 ?'s.Ive only got 16.Do penguins have any display ... A: They do have other displays of affection. Some penguins puff up their chin and face feathers when ... | |
| Do penguin chicks use displays | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: ..I am in 5th gr. and have to do a "gameshow" on penguins.They are also my favorite animal.I need to ... A: The main 'display' that penguin chicks use is for feeding. When chicks are hungry, they stand at ... | |
| What is the liquid that the father "pukes up" to a chick? | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: Father penguins puke up some sort of milky substance.They feed it to their chick.What is the ... A: Penguin "milk" is an esophageal secretion that the male penguins can regurgitate for their chick. ... | |
| chick defense | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: How does a penguin chick defend its self?Or how does it even alert adult penguins of danger...they ... A: A penguin chick is pretty defenseless against predators, so it has to rely on its parents to protect ... | |
| Does it hurt animals | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: does it hurt the animals to have to take them in captivity or what does it do to them. From my point ... A: I no longer work at the New England Aquarium (which is actually an aquarium, not a zoo), but if you ... | |
| penguin communication | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: It was very helpful. In our project, our penguins have to show that they received a communication ... A: Well, it depends if she was interested in him or not. If she was, she would respond by puffing up ... | |
| Penguins Arctic | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: If there are penguins in equatorial regions, then why aren't there any penguins in the Arctic? A: You are the second person to ask this question in as many days, so I have pasted my answer from ... | |
| Penguins | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: Why are there no penguins at the north pole? Regards Liam A: Well, you've asked an excellent question - one that scientists have been pondering for many, many ... | |
| Does it hurt animals | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: does it hurt the animals to have to take them in captivity or what does it do to them. From my point ... A: Your question and comment are both ethical in nature, and as I am specifically a penguin specialist, ... | |
| captivity | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: Would a penguin last longer in captivity or in the wild? I've heard they last longer in captivity ... A: Yes, penguins (and many other animals) usually live much longer in captivity than they do in the ... | |
| penguins | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: How much does the average penguin weigh? Will a penguin die in an attempt to protect its young? A: There are 17 different species of penguin, which are all different sizes and weights, so there is no ... | |
| communication | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: What does it mean when a penguin bows? Is wing flapping to defend territory? In our project we ... A: Penguin bowing generally is used as a courtship display by paired penguins. In some penguin ... | |
| stomach acid | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: if an animal, for example a penguin, was to live in a zoo and not be fed live bate, and had a ... A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country for twelve days ... | |
| pinguins | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: i woodlike to know what are the main methods of communication used by pinguins and for what purpose? ... A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country for twelve days ... | |
| wild rabbits | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: how do i know what kind of rabbit i have? A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country for twelve days, ... | |
| siberian tigers | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: where would i find siberian tigers in zoos close to where i live?????? A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country for twelve days ... | |
| Question | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: What is the emperor penguins future possibilities? A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country for twelve days ... | |
| Chickens | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: What do you do if something bite my chickens head off and left the body. I don't want it to happen ... A: My apologies for not responding to your question earlier. I was out of the country (just returned ... | |
| Penguins & salt water | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: There is no oceanography expert here, so I'm asking you for help. My 3rd graders are doing the egg ... A: Well, I'm not an oceanography expert either, but it is true that the density of salt water helps ... | |
| Penguins | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: Can penguins fly if they are chased by sea badgers? If not how do they escape? Is it true that ... A: Either you are yanking my chain, or someone is yanking yours. There is no such thing as a sea badger ... | |
| penguins | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: thanx A: There are Yellow-Eyed penguins and Little Blue penguins, but no Blue Eyed penguins. Since I'm not ... | |
| Penguin Habitat | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: why aren't there any penguins at the North Pole? Thanks! A: Scientists have been pondering this same question for many years as well. First, it's important to ... | |
| Magellanic penguins | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: Are Magellanic penguins endangered? What is their population size? What is their reason for ... A: Magellanic penguins are classified as 'Near Threatened' by the IUCN. There are approximately ... | |
| penguin question re heat and cold | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: Great to find an allexperts specialist in penguins as my question concerns them. Recently, a ... A: CNN actually interviewed me this week about this event (you can see a video clip of the report on my ... | |
| Penguin feet | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: Every so often I see penguins in wildlife documentaries and it pains me to see how difficult it is ... A: Contrary to popular belief - penguins actually DO have knees! There is a lot of confusion about ... | |
| Penguin individuals | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Can you use the coloring (or small coat pattern variations) of a penguin to determine individuals, ... A: Good question! With just a few species, you can do this. The most distinct feather patterns are seen ... | |
| Penguins | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: do penguins sleep standing up? A: Penguins sleep in a few different positions, one of which is indeed standing up. When sleeping in an ... | |
| icadypes salasi | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: What type of sounds to penguin produce? How large was Icadypes Salasi? thanks A: Penguins of each species make different sounds - and each species also makes a variety of sounds or ... | |
| Peacocks | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: Where are their ears located? A: I am not a peacock expert (I specifically am a penguin specialist), however my educated guess is ... | |
| Oh No! | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: Al Gore Mentioned something about most of the penguin population decreasing because of Global ... A: Al Gore was absolutely correct that many penguin species could very well become extinct, not only in ... | |
| wild animals | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: Studying wild animals is this important or not? Why? How can it help human beings to learn about ... A: Although my particular area of expertise is penguins, I will share with you my opinions regarding ... | |
| social organization in penguins | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: Please explain the social organization of penguins and their social behaviour. Thanks in advance. A: Well, this is a very broad question in nature, and an entire book could be written on this subject ... | |
| Penguin abilities | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: Dyan! As an animal lover and a comic artist I am most attracted by the amazing physycal feats of ... A: A., Please don't hesitate to write again if you have any other penguin questions. As you say, ... | |
| smallest penguin alive | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: I just wanted to know which is the smallest species of penguin, where does it live and do it have ... A: The smallest species of penguin is the Little Blue penguin (also called the Fairy penguin), which is ... | |
| incubation in penguins | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: How penguins incubate their eggs? thanks you. A: Penguins incubate their eggs like other birds do - by lying on top of them. During the breeding ... | |
| penguins | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: Dyan, What do emperor penguins eat? thanks ANSWER: Hi Sam, Thanks for your question about the ... A: I'm glad you found my previous answer helpful. In response to your first question about the ... | |
| penguins | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: what could possibly be done to save penguins over the world? Can they live in the Arctic? A: and for your concern about them. Currently, 13 of the 17 penguin species are considered threatened ... | |
| penguins | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: Dyan, What do emperor penguins eat? thanks A: This species eats a combination of fish, squid and crustaceans. The type of crustaceans they eat ... | |
Answers by Expert:
Dyan deNapoli
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I ONLY ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT PENGUINS. As a recognized penguin expert, I can authoritatively answer any questions about penguins - from biology, behavior, conservation, habitat or the impacts of global warming, to working in an aquarium setting and husbandry management etc. AGAIN, I ANSWER PENGUIN QUESTIONS ONLY - IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER ANIMALS, PLEASE ASK A DIFFERENT EXPERT. Thank you!
Experience
I worked as a Senior Penguin Aquarist at the New England Aquarium in Boston for more than seven years, co-managing our colony of seventy penguins - I also interned there for another two years prior to that. I have extensive experience hand-rearing penguin chicks, managing colony health, understanding penguin behavior and educating the public about penguins. (To date, I've taught approximately 250,000 people about penguins.) I've been the guest penguin expert on several television and radio shows, the content reviewer for three books about penguins, and have presented at national and international conferences.
In the summer of 2000, I worked as a rehabilitation manager during the rescue of 40,000 African penguins from an oil spill. I have just written a book about this event, THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE, which Simon & Schuster published in October of 2010. In 2006, I founded an educational company called THE PENGUIN LADY devoted to raising awareness and funding to help protect threatened and endangered penguin species. I provide on-site programs about penguins for kids and adults, and donate a portion of the proceeds from every program to penguin rescue groups.
Organizations
National Marine Educators Association (NMEA),
Massachusetts Marine Educators Association (MMEA),
Association of Zoos & Aquariums,
International Zoo Educators Association,
Author's Guild,
International Women's Writing Guild,
Homebased Businesswomen's Network (HBN),
North Shore Women in Business (NSWIB),
North Shore Business Forum,
Mount Ida Veterinary Technology Accreditation Committee,
Mensa International
Publications
On October 26, 2010, Simon & Schuster's Free Press imprint published THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE, a book that I wrote about the remarkable rescue of 40,000 penguins from the Treasure oil spill in South Africa. I worked as a rehabilitation supervisor during this historic event. More than 12,500 volunteers labored for three grueling months, after which 95% of the penguins were successfully released back into the wild. THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and other stores and online retailers.
I authored the Penguin chapter for the New Book of Knowledge Encyclopedia (NBK) in 2008, which is also available online at www.go.grolier.com (Most libraries have free access to this database.)
A paper that I wrote about the New England Aquarium's penguin outreach program was published in the AZA conference proceedings journal in 1998.
Education/Credentials
BS in Animal Science from Mount Ida College in 1996,
AZA Conservation Education School - NC State University 1999,
PADI Scuba certified in 1995
Awards and Honors
Distinguished Alumni Award from Mount Ida College in 2002 for outstanding contributions in the sciences - award given in recognition of work done as a rehabilitation manager during the rescue of 20,000 penguins from an oil spill in South Africa.
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mount Ida College in 1996 - awarded for Exceptional Achievement in the Sciences at graduation ceremonies
Past/Present Clients
Numerous book stores, schools, colleges, libraries, museums, cruise ships, assisted living facilities, rotary clubs and more. I've been the onboard penguin expert/guest lecturer on nature cruises to the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica. I've also been the guest on many TV and radio programs, including CNN, BBC, CBC Radio-Canada, ABC Radio Australia and Sierra Club Radio. If you wish to obtain specific names or locations, please contact me via e-mail or through my website at www.thepenguinlady.com
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